[Eb_n54]

Let's hear it people. I want to know, have you updated your turbos? If so which route did you go and why. I'm FBO with 130k on stock turbos no 30FF but waste-gate rattle sounding like a POS ford pinto (No offense). I've searched day and night and can't seem to find any updated info on this. My goals are to be right at 550-600hp reliably. Meaning I am willing to run a bigger turbo setup to run lower HP to give the motor and tranny less stress for daily driving. I don't want to run any E85 just 93'. I've been looking at pure turbos stage 2 high flow and DD, steamspeed turbos, DOC racing 6266, RB twin turbo hi flow setup, and considering Motiv. If you have any other suggestions please let me know because I am planning on completing the swap soon!

[Smgs1992]

I'd go single turbo.
When my turbos went I ended up going with new stock turbos due to uncertainty of upgraded twins. Seen too many posts of guys 3k-20k miles and having to replace or rebuild and single turbo was out of my budget at the time.

[Eb_n54]

Originally Posted by Smgs1992

I'd go single turbo.
When my turbos went I ended up going with new stock turbos due to uncertainty of upgraded twins. Seen too many posts of guys 3k-20k miles and having to replace or rebuild and single turbo was out of my budget at the time.

Originally Posted by Smgs1992

I'd go single turbo.
When my turbos went I ended up going with new stock turbos due to uncertainty of upgraded twins. Seen too many posts of guys 3k-20k miles and having to replace or rebuild and single turbo was out of my budget at the time.

I've heard that as well which makes me want to go the ST route. I don't mind it but just would like to keep the low end torque DD. Any recommendations on a single turbo kit?

[Smgs1992]

If you're wanting more low end torque for DD purposes just go with a smaller ST such as a 5862. I've never heard anything bad about docrace turbo kits either my local bmw shop has installed several of them and they're all he recommends for a ST setup.

[langsbr]

For 600whp with no e85 you will need a 6466 and have to just sacrifice low end torque.

If you can be happy with 500whp, then pure or rb would be the way to go. Id go with the rb gf Turbos.

Do you have a goal besides hp? Are you looking for an et,a trap speed, or a Target car to be faster than in a roll race? These cars are faster than their hp seems.

I have mmp s3s, best trap has been 128 on e30, but I gap new zl1s and hellcat redeyes in roll races and they both trap 130+.
The best part is since I'm still twins, the torque immediately has me jump out in front, not waiting for boost and then pulling ahead at 120+.

[E93Beast]

I run E85 for safety
Any reason you are against E85 ?

[Eb_n54]

Originally Posted by langsbr

For 600whp with no e85 you will need a 6466 and have to just sacrifice low end torque.

If you can be happy with 500whp, then pure or rb would be the way to go. Id go with the rb gf Turbos.

Do you have a goal besides hp? Are you looking for an et,a trap speed, or a Target car to be faster than in a roll race? These cars are faster than their hp seems.

I have mmp s3s, best trap has been 128 on e30, but I gap new zl1s and hellcat redeyes in roll races and they both trap 130+.
The best part is since I'm still twins, the torque immediately has me jump out in front, not waiting for boost and then pulling ahead at 120+.

Thanks for the reply,


Besides hp I definitely want the vehicle to be a roll monster. How much did you beat the hellcat by cars or semis? Also how much power can the stock clutch handle 500hp/torque?

[Eb_n54]

Originally Posted by CLEAN E93

I run E85 for safety
Any reason you are against E85 ?

Honestly not really against it just not sure how reliable running full on E85 is on a DD. I was planning on updating to the fuel it stage 3 pump regardless

[E93Beast]

Originally Posted by Eb_n54

Honestly not really against it just not sure how reliable running full on E85 is on a DD. I was planning on updating to the fuel it stage 3 pump regardless

Much safer to run higher octane for your goals on this platform IMO.
I run E85 only. You can go meth or race gas (gets pricey), but I prefer meth more for cooling vs relying on it for octane.

[Smgs1992]

Stock clutch slips on tune bolt on power levels. Definitely not something that can handle upgraded turbos. You'll want a spec stage 3/3+ to handle the extra power.

[DailyN54]

Having owned 4 n54s since 2007 and also having twin turbo and single turbo setups I will say if its in your budget go ST. A ST setup simplifies the system and a larger turbo will handle higher boost better. I went with a bottom mount because I daily my car and drive about 30k miles a year. Heat really becomes a problem in top mount systems. No such issues with bottom mount. Also my last set up I ran e85 for almost 45k miles with no issues. Heat is the biggest killer so make sure you have a good oil cooler and a low temp thermostat also having blown 3 motors, I found that injectors are the single most important thing, however, even the series 12 injectors will leak. Look out for misfires and pay attention to cold starts to see if you have a leaking injector.

[Eb_n54]

Originally Posted by DailyN54

Having owned 4 n54s since 2007 and also having twin turbo and single turbo setups I will say if its in your budget go ST. A ST setup simplifies the system and a larger turbo will handle higher boost better. I went with a bottom mount because I daily my car and drive about 30k miles a year. Heat really becomes a problem in top mount systems. No such issues with bottom mount. Also my last set up I ran e85 for almost 45k miles with no issues. Heat is the biggest killer so make sure you have a good oil cooler and a low temp thermostat also having blown 3 motors, I found that injectors are the single most important thing, however, even the series 12 injectors will leak. Look out for misfires and pay attention to cold starts to see if you have a leaking injector.

Thank you Daily!


Thanks for the tips I will make sure to get the best oil cooler installed as well. I think either way I will go with the bottom mount since I'm hearing it's night and day difference with heat. I think I may hold off and save for the biggest doc racing or motiv turbo and bottom mount it. Only main concern as you said I want to finish the job once and limit as many issues as possible. Reason why I'm leaning going all out because if I do a upgraded twin turbo (P600, RB, Streamspeed) the cost comes out to almost 3-5k just for the turbo kit in which I might as well spend 5-8k and go all out not to do it twice.

[DailyN54]

I have a Speedtech bottom mount. Check them out as well. What are your overall goals?

[Smgs1992]

Originally Posted by Eb_n54

Thank you Daily!


Thanks for the tips I will make sure to get the best oil cooler installed as well. I think either way I will go with the bottom mount since I'm hearing it's night and day difference with heat. I think I may hold off and save for the biggest doc racing or motiv turbo and bottom mount it. Only main concern as you said I want to finish the job once and limit as many issues as possible. Reason why I'm leaning going all out because if I do a upgraded twin turbo (P600, RB, Streamspeed) the cost comes out to almost 3-5k just for the turbo kit in which I might as well spend 5-8k and go all out not to do it twice.

You may want to do a bit more research before you pull the trigger based on your comment.
Neither docrace nor motiv make turbos. They make the manifold and sell turbo kits but generally use precision Garrett or xona for the turbo. Docrace does not to my knowledge make a bottom mount kit either. Motiv used to but if I remember they stopped selling g their turbo kits. (Could be wrong on that)
The biggest turbo out there will not be fitting for your needs based on what you said you're looking for. A 6766 is gonna be incredibly laggy below 5k rpm it'll make big power without problem for sure over 800+whp but it isn't gonna be usable power for day to day use. A 6266 will be much more fitting for all around use but still not gonna have much down low below 3500rpm. A 5862 will make power down low but you'll need E85 to reach your goal of 600whp.
I'd say you should do more research first before jumping into this and really figure out what you want out of the car. If your plan is for roll racing a 6266/6466 will be favorable but you give up some power down low. Do more research watch some videos on how different size turbos hit and figure out where to go from there.

[iqraceworks]

I'd really like to do to a single turbo setup whenever my stock twins die on me.......but "most" of the single turbo cars I've seen really aren't daily drivers, and don't seem all that reliable. Maybe I'm wrong.....but at this point, I think I'm just going to go with an upgraded set of twins when my fail.......for a daily driver, I'm happy with 500hp.....and not burning through O2 sensors, and all the other issues people seem to have.

That being said.....most of the people I've seen with single turbos go with the top side design......maybe the bottom side kits are better for a daily?

[924er]

I think you can hit close to 550 with pure stage 2 twins with inlets and a proper tune. Am I wrong?

I have friends happy with upgraded twins and seems reliable to me. I also have a friend running a ST as a daily and I don't hear him complain much either.

[Eb_n54]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

I'd really like to do to a single turbo setup whenever my stock twins die on me.......but "most" of the single turbo cars I've seen really aren't daily drivers, and don't seem all that reliable. Maybe I'm wrong.....but at this point, I think I'm just going to go with an upgraded set of twins when my fail.......for a daily driver, I'm happy with 500hp.....and not burning through O2 sensors, and all the other issues people seem to have.

That being said.....most of the people I've seen with single turbos go with the top side design......maybe the bottom side kits are better for a daily?

I honesty think a big part of it is a the tunning and install. Obviously depending on the kit it could need some fab work to make it work 100%. I think I may just do a hi-flow TT setup because I read anything past a 6266 you will need to build the motor. So upgraded twins may be the route here

[Eb_n54]

Originally Posted by 924er

I think you can hit close to 550 with pure stage 2 twins with inlets and a proper tune. Am I wrong?

I have friends happy with upgraded twins and seems reliable to me. I also have a friend running a ST as a daily and I don't hear him complain much either.

I haven't driven any upgrade TT, or main stream kits. I have a buddy that has the Motiv kit in which he sometimes has his issues with boost leaks etc. Driving it was fun but not too much engagement being an auto trans. RB or pure 600 maybe be the move but 10k for the motiv kit maybe over board unless I build the vehicle. So around 500hp should be enough for a daily.

[E93Beast]

Originally Posted by 924er

I think you can hit close to 550 with pure stage 2 twins with inlets and a proper tune. Am I wrong?

I have friends happy with upgraded twins and seems reliable to me. I also have a friend running a ST as a daily and I don't hear him complain much either.

Depends on fuel.
You can do more.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Smgs1992

Stock clutch slips on tune bolt on power levels. Definitely not something that can handle upgraded turbos. You'll want a spec stage 3/3+ to handle the extra power.

Yea, the stock clutch will definitely need to be upgraded.

2+ holds 545 TQ

3+ holds 671 TQ

I wouldn't bother with the 3 as it's not a full face and engagement is horrible.

[E93Beast]

Originally Posted by Eb_n54

I haven't driven any upgrade TT, or main stream kits. I have a buddy that has the Motiv kit in which he sometimes has his issues with boost leaks etc. Driving it was fun but not too much engagement being an auto trans. RB or pure 600 maybe be the move but 10k for the motiv kit maybe over board unless I build the vehicle. So around 500hp should be enough for a daily.

People daily 600whp +
Its all in the fueling and clean logs overall.
This doesnt mean you have to floor it everywhere you go to use the 600+, but there if you need it.

Or jb4 and switch maps.
I always run map 6 unless its raining or slick roads, then ill drop to map 2 .

[Smgs1992]

Originally Posted by Eb_n54

I honesty think a big part of it is a the tunning and install. Obviously depending on the kit it could need some fab work to make it work 100%. I think I may just do a hi-flow TT setup because I read anything past a 6266 you will need to build the motor. So upgraded twins may be the route here

You don't need a built motor to handle more than a 6266 it all comes down to the tune. You can run a 6870 if you wanted as long as you don't push too much boost. However a 6266 will max out around 750-800whp and be a pretty solid match to the N54 and will be more power than any TT setup