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  3. General Technical
  4. Are the new N54/55 motors reliable? known problems?

Are the new N54/55 motors reliable? known problems?

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  • L
    L
    Laishes
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    just wondering if any of you agree/disagree with car throttle on this one.

    http://www.carthrottle.com/10-surprisingly-unreliable-cars/

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • L
      L
      Laishes
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      so if you replace unreliable parts from the factory, then are they reliable?

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • M
        M
        michael1972
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        The fuel pump is definetly a weak point. Thats why they extended the warranty on it. Mine was replaced prior to me buying the car and I haven't had a issue yet.

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        • Bobdudeman1988B
          Bobdudeman1988B
          Bobdudeman1988
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          High pressure fuel pumps where very bad in the beginning now there fine, turbo wastegate rattle on n54s are a big hitter

          More annoying than anything, electric water pumps can be a bitch 70k seams to be the lifespan and at 400 bucks not cheap for both motors, fuel injectors are an issue on the n54 at times but under extened warrenty and with the new style index 12, show no issues anymore, other than that very strong and reliable, i love my n54 rare issues include a bad motor mount causing the belt to rub and snap, and exhaust cam bearing ledge failure, but again, rare. If its over 50k on rhe n54 its fine, the n55 is solid as well, n54 also suffers from bad valve carbon buildup, but i fix that for people :)

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          0
          • Bobdudeman1988B
            Bobdudeman1988B
            Bobdudeman1988
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            Also if you plan on modding, the 6mt stock clutch will slip and its junk and $$ upgrade, the 6at seams to handle high power very well, mine is :)

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            • i_love_carsI
              i_love_carsI
              i_love_cars
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              the stock clutch is good for 450 before it really starts to slip. Honestly the only way you'll ever make a clutch on this car slip is if your modding takes you into FBO combined with meth/e85 territory and beyond. 

              engine is overall very reliable, as others have said it's the auxiliary components to the engine like HPFP and water pump that tend to go, and most of the issues are really n54. The n55 resolved a lot of the problems, and any n54 that's had the work done in recent years has benefited from the better design of the parts. 

              n54 valve covers tend to crack, as well.

              IMG6593.jpg

              2011 E92 M3 6MT ZCP - ESS 625 supercharged
              2007 Z4MR 
              2003 E39 M5
              2002 E46 M3
              2021 X5 40i

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              • GB-335xiCoupeG
                GB-335xiCoupeG
                GB-335xiCoupe
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                My 2011 N55 e92 has been rock-solid reliable, except for my thermostat housing cracked due to a pothole at 89k miles, but I replaced the water pump anyway at that point as preventative maint. Also since you have to remove the pump to get to it anyway...

                Bobdudeman and I walnut blasted at 100k miles, and changed ATF/pan/filter and transfer case fluid at 103k miles.

                Hpfp has not failed. No turbo problems.  I'm now at 104k and counting.

                • 2011 335xi Coupe Black Sapphire Metallic (e92/N55/ZPP/ZCW)
                • 2011 335xi Coupe Deep Sea Blue Metallic(e92/N55/ZPP/ZCW)

                Both on Drivewaymod.jpg

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                • Bobdudeman1988B
                  Bobdudeman1988B
                  Bobdudeman1988
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  There great motors, one of the better out there.

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                  • i_love_carsI
                    i_love_carsI
                    i_love_cars
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    yeah honestly they really are strong motors. I've yet to see forum threads on major sites like 1addicts.com  that talk about the engine blowing up. They are built really well. Many modern turbo cars are built with very strong bottom-end components given how the torque curve works in today's design. 

                    N54 is obviously the golden child, while my N55 is a red-headed stepchild beaten in the corner - but really both are good, it's just incredibly impressive how much you can get out of the N54 in stock form. No one has yet found the limits of the stock bottom end on those, and that's with pushing over 700 at the wheels. To me, it's like the equivalent of a modern-day 2jz block. They are just rock solid. 

                    But for most people buying these things that want to mod - they won't go past FBO because it's super cheap relatively speaking, and things get much more expensive very quickly after FBO - and whether you are on an N55 or N54, at FBO status you'll have plenty of power. Not many motors can claim to provide such performance and reliability with so much increased power for the dollar.

                    IMG6593.jpg

                    2011 E92 M3 6MT ZCP - ESS 625 supercharged
                    2007 Z4MR 
                    2003 E39 M5
                    2002 E46 M3
                    2021 X5 40i

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • CMartC
                      CMartC
                      CMart
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      I can definitely see this motor swap being my next project when my M62 E30 is done.

                      Excursion 7.3
                      E30 LS1

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • Bobdudeman1988B
                        Bobdudeman1988B
                        Bobdudeman1988
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        I just read the car throttle thing, lol they said it was an iorn block :P

                        Its an aluminum block with iorn liners..cant really trust to much from everyone

                        Also notice you dont see a single american car in there?, bunch of bias jackasses, ive seen my fair share of junk gm,ford,dodge crap,

                        Anyone remeber the ford 2.9 that loved to crack heads? Lolz

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                        0
                        • patsbimmer1P
                          patsbimmer1P
                          patsbimmer1
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          Bobdudeman1988 said:

                          I just read the car throttle thing, lol they said it was an iorn block :P

                          Its an aluminum block with iorn liners..cant really trust to much from everyone

                          Also notice you dont see a single american car in there?, bunch of bias jackasses, ive seen my fair share of junk gm,ford,dodge crap,

                          Anyone remeber the ford 2.9 that loved to crack heads? Lolz

                          The article was also written 4 years ago.

                          2011 e90 M3 - DCT, Borla exhaust, BMW Performance Black Grille, ECS Painted Corners, Ziza Angel Eyes

                          07 335i Stella - sport package, BMS DCI, zhp knob, TMS cf parking brake lever, VRSF downpipes, MHD tune, H&R race springs, other stuff *SOLD*

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                          95 325is *sold*
                          93 nissan 240sx KA-T *sold*

                          BMWCCA #473306

                          Instagram @patsbimmer1

                          AKA- HALLWAY PAT

                          "burnouts bring babes and babes dont have time for bushings" - Kaiser Rolls

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