The N54 engine pistons are cast (and not forged).

tscdennab · 06-07-2011, 08:22 AM

I have contacted Mahle and gave them all the details needed in order to identify the piston type in the N54 engine (following a rumor stating that they are forged).

Here is an excerpt of the answer I have received:

"Thanks for your reply.

With the chassis number we found more details.
It is a cast piston.

Further we can say, that we have the part only in OE and not in our aftermarket range. "

werke-t · 06-07-2011, 08:32 AM

hmm well I guess the cast piston can handle some serious boost then it seems...

unfor was under the impression everything was forged correct? Wasnt he running 28psi on stock block?

Thanks for the info

ridin135 · 06-07-2011, 08:34 AM

Rods are forged

Elie335 · 06-07-2011, 08:35 AM

OP is just jelly because he got a N55

werke-t · 06-07-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ridin135

Rods are forged

So the pistons are the only cast internals? It seems like even though the pistons are cast it they are doing just fine for the power numbers some of these guys are making out here.

unfor · 06-07-2011, 08:58 AM

Not true.
People have opened the motor and have found the rods / pistns to be forged.
Mahle just looked up a part number.

Elie335 · 06-07-2011, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unfor

Not true.
People have opened the motor and have found the rods / pistns to be forged.
Mahle just looked up a part number.

+10000, I'm still searching around to show the OP is totally wrong

enrita · 06-07-2011, 09:26 AM

my pistons were forged as well as the rods . Confirmed by my shop when they opened the engine.

unfor · 06-07-2011, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enrita

my pistons were forged as well as the rods . Confirmed by my shop when they opened the engine.

There we go.
Thanks enrita.

scottp999 · 06-07-2011, 10:23 AM

Is it possible that both answers are right? That at a certain production date or year BMW changed the part to reduce costs?

enrita · 06-07-2011, 10:30 AM

could be actually see part numbers:
01 Piston (0) 6 07/2007 11257561698 ENDED
01 Piston (0) 6 12/2009 11257577581 $354.95

which could also mean i have cast pistons now which would suck big time...

STONEY_M5 · 06-07-2011, 10:30 AM

or that the n55 has cast and the n54 has forged....

unfor · 06-07-2011, 10:38 AM

My N54 motor, build date August 2006, has forged pistons.
N55 has cast ones to save cost.

werke-t · 06-07-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unfor

My N54 motor, build date August 2006, has forged pistons.
N55 has cast ones to save cost.

YAAAY! i have a 11/06 build, got me worried for a minute...

shitty news for n55 guys though.

STONEY_M5 · 06-07-2011, 10:48 AM

LOL... Me too.

One more reason why n54 is superior to n55...

Litos · 06-07-2011, 11:15 AM

holy shit - i learn something new uurrday.

my car has forged pistons/rods.

nice......

tscdennab · 06-07-2011, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enrita

my pistons were forged as well as the rods . Confirmed by my shop when they opened the engine.

If they were forged maybe your engine wouldn't break ? A forged piston should hold much more power than like 450whp.

I wish they were forged. But why would BMW advertise "forged crankshaft" in their N54 documentation, and not also "forged pistons" ?

Also, how can a shop tell if a piston is cast or forged ?

enrita, did you by any chance noted the piston's "code" which was stamped on it ? I can send that code to someone at Mahle and he can look up for sure.

flip4335 · 06-07-2011, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werke-t

YAAAY! i have a 11/06 build, got me worried for a minute...

shitty news for n55 guys though.

+1. Impressive! Keeping mine forever! LOL

acdHQK713K · 06-07-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tscdennab

If they were forged maybe your engine wouldn't break ? A forged piston should hold much more power than like 450whp.

I wish they were forged. But why would BMW advertise "forged crankshaft" in their N54 documentation, and not also "forged pistons" ?

Also, how can a shop tell if a piston is cast or forged ?

enrita, did you by any chance noted the piston's "code" which was stamped on it ? I can send that code to someone at Mahle and he can look up for sure.

Low blow. You should probably go back and read why it broke. Forged or cast wouldn't have mattered at that point.

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 06-07-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tscdennab

If they were forged maybe your engine wouldn't break ? A forged piston should hold much more power than like 450whp.

I wish they were forged. But why would BMW advertise "forged crankshaft" in their N54 documentation, and not also "forged pistons" ?

Also, how can a shop tell if a piston is cast or forged ?

enrita, did you by any chance noted the piston's "code" which was stamped on it ? I can send that code to someone at Mahle and he can look up for sure.

His engine didnt break from power....

unfor · 06-07-2011, 11:38 AM

When I pulled my motor towards the beginning of the ST thread, I can confirm that both components (rods and pistons) are forged. I don't know if this changed during the life of the N54, but I know that for my build date, I can 100% guarantee that both components were forged. Also, the same build date had a bolted diff, so maybe they changed during the switch to welded. Who knows.

Mahle can look up any part number they want, but they haven't looked inside the motor. Multiple shops that have pulled these N54 motors (including Cp-e at the time) have all confirmed these forged internals.

enrita · 06-07-2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tscdennab

If they were forged maybe your engine wouldn't break ? A forged piston should hold much more power than like 450whp.

I wish they were forged. But why would BMW advertise "forged crankshaft" in their N54 documentation, and not also "forged pistons" ?

Also, how can a shop tell if a piston is cast or forged ?

enrita, did you by any chance noted the piston's "code" which was stamped on it ? I can send that code to someone at Mahle and he can look up for sure.

you are such a douche

06-07-2011, 08:22 AM	#1
tscdennab Banned 162 Rep 1,809 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Europe iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW [6.24]	The N54 engine pistons are cast (and not forged). I have contacted Mahle and gave them all the details needed in order to identify the piston type in the N54 engine (following a rumor stating that they are forged). Here is an excerpt of the answer I have received: "Thanks for your reply. With the chassis number we found more details. It is a cast piston. Further we can say, that we have the part only in OE and not in our aftermarket range. " Last edited by tscdennab; 06-07-2011 at 08:32 AM..
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06-07-2011, 08:32 AM	#2
werke-t Captain 52 Rep 731 Posts Drives: 2020 X3M Competition Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sarasota, FL iTrader: (5)	hmm well I guess the cast piston can handle some serious boost then it seems... unfor was under the impression everything was forged correct? Wasnt he running 28psi on stock block? Thanks for the info
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06-07-2011, 08:34 AM	#3
ridin135 Colonel 143 Rep 2,407 Posts Drives: Depends on the day Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Greenville iTrader: (7)	Rods are forged
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06-07-2011, 08:35 AM	#4
Elie335 ايلي ٣٣٥ هاهاها 94 Rep 1,448 Posts Drives: Vorsteiner e92 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Leb iTrader: (1)	OP is just jelly because he got a N55 __________________ Recent exterior modifications
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06-07-2011, 08:58 AM	#6
unfor Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 215 Posts Drives: stuff Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: lEASTCoast iTrader: (0)	Not true. People have opened the motor and have found the rods / pistns to be forged. Mahle just looked up a part number.
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06-07-2011, 09:26 AM	#8
enrita Major General 163 Rep 7,377 Posts Drives: 335i - Big turbos Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Italian in Sweden iTrader: (0)	my pistons were forged as well as the rods . Confirmed by my shop when they opened the engine. __________________ 07 335i AT - MOTIV 750 - MHD E85 BMS flash - BMS PI - JB4G5 - Okada Coils - NGK 5992 Plugs - Helix IC - Snow Stg. 3 - Stett CP - Custom midpipes with 100 HJS Cats - Bastuck Quad - PSS10 - QUAIFE LSD - BMS OCC - Forge DVs - AR OC - ALCON BBK - M3 Chassi - Dinan CP - Velocity M rear Toe arms - Advan RZ-DF - LUX H8 - Level 10 AT upgrade
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06-07-2011, 10:23 AM	#10
scottp999 Brigadier General 138 Rep 4,764 Posts Drives: 4runner SR5 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: MD iTrader: (2) Garage List 2007 BMW 335 [9.00]	Is it possible that both answers are right? That at a certain production date or year BMW changed the part to reduce costs?
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06-07-2011, 10:30 AM	#11
enrita Major General 163 Rep 7,377 Posts Drives: 335i - Big turbos Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Italian in Sweden iTrader: (0)	could be actually see part numbers: 01 Piston (0) 6 07/2007 11257561698 ENDED 01 Piston (0) 6 12/2009 11257577581 $354.95 which could also mean i have cast pistons now which would suck big time... __________________ 07 335i AT - MOTIV 750 - MHD E85 BMS flash - BMS PI - JB4G5 - Okada Coils - NGK 5992 Plugs - Helix IC - Snow Stg. 3 - Stett CP - Custom midpipes with 100 HJS Cats - Bastuck Quad - PSS10 - QUAIFE LSD - BMS OCC - Forge DVs - AR OC - ALCON BBK - M3 Chassi - Dinan CP - Velocity M rear Toe arms - Advan RZ-DF - LUX H8 - Level 10 AT upgrade
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06-07-2011, 10:30 AM	#12
STONEY_M5 MAAD HEAD 65 Rep 1,122 Posts Drives: 2010 X5M 2013 M5 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 13 F10 M5 [0.00] 2010 X5M [0.00] 07 335i [9.26]	or that the n55 has cast and the n54 has forged.... __________________ F10 M5 e70 X5M Sold E90 335i
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06-07-2011, 10:38 AM	#13
unfor Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 215 Posts Drives: stuff Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: lEASTCoast iTrader: (0)	My N54 motor, build date August 2006, has forged pistons. N55 has cast ones to save cost.
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06-07-2011, 10:48 AM	#15
STONEY_M5 MAAD HEAD 65 Rep 1,122 Posts Drives: 2010 X5M 2013 M5 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 13 F10 M5 [0.00] 2010 X5M [0.00] 07 335i [9.26]	LOL... Me too. One more reason why n54 is superior to n55... __________________ F10 M5 e70 X5M Sold E90 335i
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06-07-2011, 11:15 AM	#16
Litos Banned 224 Rep 2,991 Posts Drives: 2012 Challenger RT Junk Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston/Pearland iTrader: (1)	holy shit - i learn something new uurrday. my car has forged pistons/rods. nice......
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06-07-2011, 11:38 AM	#21
unfor Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 215 Posts Drives: stuff Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: lEASTCoast iTrader: (0)	When I pulled my motor towards the beginning of the ST thread, I can confirm that both components (rods and pistons) are forged. I don't know if this changed during the life of the N54, but I know that for my build date, I can 100% guarantee that both components were forged. Also, the same build date had a bolted diff, so maybe they changed during the switch to welded. Who knows. Mahle can look up any part number they want, but they haven't looked inside the motor. Multiple shops that have pulled these N54 motors (including Cp-e at the time) have all confirmed these forged internals.
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