The JB4 with a back-end flash can handle anything from 300-700+whp. Probably turbo. $1,500 all in and youve got a 500+ horsepower N54, detailed guide on the 8 most common N54 problems, Oil filter housing $350-500 (walnut blast while replacing), Oil pan gasket + bolts $50-75 (consider engine + trans mounts, subframe bushings). An aluminum open-deck block and aluminum head help keep weight down. However, since the air and fuel are both more highly compressed, there will be more heat. However, there are a number of BMW N54 gaskets prone to leaking oil. Overall, the leak-down test will give you detailed information to determine the health of your engine and help pinpoint a failure during the diagnostic process. 1. Bringing the BMW community together. The lower reading from the "China" tester doesn't mean it wasn't accurate. Some complete engine failures happen due to this, but its not too common. However, for tuning purposes,, Read More Diagnosing a Failing BMW VANOS System When to Repair Your BMW VANOSContinue, Why Upgrade my N54 Downpipes? A forum community dedicated to BMW owners and enthusiasts. Nonetheless, there are generally accepted limits for the N54. Healthy engines should have compression over 100 psi per cylinder, with no more than 10 percent variation between the highest and lowest readings. Does the white smoke diminish as the engine warms up any? Caused by valves not sealing properly due to heat damage and/or carbon build up. Plugs are new. Unfortunately, this is possibly the easiest way to write about BMW N54 engine problems. My 335i was likely around 430-440whp at the time. Come join the discussion about Bimmerfest events, production numbers, programming, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! 35PSI STOCK N54 Motor Compression TEST & Misfires FIX?Become a member and get exclusive discounts at https://www.ZeroTo60.com plus other unique perks and ben. Be sure to use a torque wrench to install the new one. Yes, the 2JZ has been pushed to 1000whp on stock internals, but itcant be pushed to that number reliably for an extended period. The car was running 24psi of boost. A leak down tester forces compressed air into the engine. Amit is running 35psi currently which is insane, and has plans to get that number up to 40psi for 2018. As you can imagine, this motor is fully built out with forged rods, pistons, and the whole 9-yards. Compression is everything in an enginepoor compression can cause misfiresas well as poor ignition. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Low compression in one cylinder usually indicates a bad exhaust valve. Weight: 308g. 185. Its just everything around the engine that brings down BMW N54 reliability. We run the XHP Stage 3 transmission flash on our automatic 335i. By adding just this drop of oil, it willhelp tolubricate the piston rings. We ran 425+whp on a bone stock LPFP for over 7 years and 40,000 miles on 30-40% E85 without a hiccup. Who would have thought it would be off by that much Super post. You should start to worry if one of your cylinders is getting close to 100 psi. N54 is pretty reliable besides a few misfires on old hardware. Those awards were issued back when the engine was new and the problems we justmentioned were so common, but it still goes to show how good the N54 really is. Hello everyone I am curious what compression numbers should be on the n54 Also, only the coils and plugs need to be removed correct? Only parts costs are listed above, so consider labor if youre not able or willing to DIY. I think. Around 150 is normal. Compression height: 31.7mm. The size of the turbo in this beast will eat your child! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. An aluminum open-deck block is far from ideal for high power and boost. Then there are the fuel injectors. Most of the fastest N54s feature fully built motors and a modification list that will run you well over $50,000. Is the BMW N54 3.0L inline-6 engine reliable? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. OK. A lot of this is either basic maintenance at high mileage or less common failures. It then made its way into a handful of other models including the 135i, 535i, and Z4. Join Date: Mar 2012 . Youll also need expensive port injection upgrades, and other things become more necessary. Regardless, this is still super impressive. If they break parts of the belt can wind around the crank and actually wind up in the oil pan and cause issues. Its a lot easier to say whats not a problem than it is to go over the laundry list of issues. The Panda is another single turbo build by EMP-Tuning, runing a WedgePerformance tune, and features a very similar setup to their 920WHP N54 we just featured above. 1) Injectors fail; dying mainly due to poor fuel quality and traffic in traffic jams. His experience as an enthusiast, combined with his technical knowledge, makes him an essential resource for anyone looking to improve the performance of their BMW. BMW E90 335i N54 Head Off & Compression Issue Conclusion So we have been lucky to a degree, probably the best case scenario for this motors compression probl. This is a non-issue if you can run the engine, first. Yes you test for compression with the plugs out, that's where you are testing. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. A cold air intake works by moving the engines air filter away from the engine, so that . Compression ratios usually vary between 1.057 per stage; however, a ratio of 3.54.0 per stage is considered maximum for most process operations. Numbers higher than 200 psi create excessive cylinder pressure at low engine speeds, which turns the engine into a detonating monster. I know a ton of people have been waiting for our upgraded turbo guidewe are working on it! Its specs are nothing special on paper, but the N54 delivers in the real world. It does not store any personal data. From this car he learned how to do his own repair work while also learning more about BMW. The valvetrain doesnt run into problems. Still, what truly makes it special is the ability to boost the output even more with a couple of aftermarket upgrades. The torque is low and if it's not right the new one will leak. Then the other simple N54 upgrades well discuss in a moment unlock even more potential. Running upgraded inlets and outlets and E85, the N54 stock turbos can break this 500whp barrier. Jake currently owns two N54 powered BMWs an E60 535i and E82 135i. An aluminum open-deck block and aluminum head help keep weight down. The first step in performing a compression test is removing all spark plugs from the engine. test at 230ft above sea level on a . You might think, Minivans make nearly 300hp, why is the N54 so low on power? and youd be right. Not everyone will see results this impressive. Intake valves should be cleaned every 70,000 to 100,000 miles. 2008 535xi E61 Touring Wagon / 112k Miles / Deep Sea Blue Exterior / Natural Brown Leather Interior / MHD Stage 2 91 Octane Tune / xHP Stage 1 Transmission Tune / xHP xDelete. Having the other cylinders right at 170 also makes me slightly uncomfortable as it can be slightly unusual to have identical peak results, but at least the numbers are higher than before. However, 600whp on quick spooling twin turbos is a different story. The DCT transmissions just cant handle the torque that a manual can. The N54 began production in 2006 and first appeared in the 2007 BMW 335i; in 2008, the N54 was introduced along with the 135i and 535i. Amits car was tuned by Ken Atkinson at WedgePerformance. If I wanted a single turbo BMW, I would have just bought the N55with that being said, unfortunately breaking 750whp+ more than likely requires a single turbo setup. E90/E91/E92/E93 (2006 - 2013) N54 Compression test. Check these out to see just how in-depth we go to make them. Oil leaks and cooling system problems are commonplace. It may not display this or other websites correctly. After all, engines are air pumps, andwithout compression, they tendnot to work well. The BMW N54 is a beautiful engine, but some days it will have you banging your head on a wall, Before purchasing a turbocharged 135i, 335i or 535i it is important to consider the differences between the N54 and N55 powered BMWs. Turbos can leak both oil and coolant into the exhaust. Hobby mechanic doing my own work for 50 years or so. Factory BMW pistons are cast aluminum, which is fine for the intended power output and durability. I think a set of Pure stage 2s is in my near future. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. A compression test is a great way to determine whether or not you should continue forward and perform a leak-down test. N54 stock turbos do fail naturally, though. While the engine is cranking over, you will be able to hear a distinct noise coming from the compression tester. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Can you do a compression test on a cold engine? Low compression in one cylinder usually indicates a bad exhaust valve. Compression Test numbers. Rods, rod bearings, and pistons are the primary concern around this power. 5) Over time, from high temperatures gaskets, pipes, etc. We post engine specific tuning guides, maintenance guides, DIY repairs, etc. Then theres the basic maintenance stuff on high mileage models. Closed deck 9.5:1 compression N54 short block, created rods, created pistons. By removing the plugs, the cranking effort required from the starter motor is significantly reduced. It will be heavier than the e46 m3. Poor compression can also have an effect on engine performance inregards to the balance of poweracross each cylinder. Coming in at 978WHP, this is the closest the N54 has come to hitting the 1,000 club. No such issues after flashing. bimmerfest.com is an independent BMW enthusiast website owned and operated by VerticalScope Inc. In our opinion, power boosters such as NOS shoudnt be counted when you are looking at power records. JavaScript is disabled. Do it right and spend a bit extra on parts for peace of mind. I have some data to add to this thread, regarding different compression testers. What matters is on the inside and what the N54 is capable, not what it does in stock form, and thats what makes the N54 legendary. What is a good compression ratio for Turbo? See if you can find out if the serpentine belt was recently replaced. The compression test can be done either hot or cold. Good luck putting power down without a great wheel and tire setup. Hey guys, Short update about the n54 engine, I acquired a n54. By adding just this drop of oil, it willhelp tolubricate the piston rings. Turbo inlets & outlets unleash a good amount of power and torque. Jump to Latest Follow Today we are bringing you a post of the 7 fastest N54s in the world. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. In essence, N54 inlets & outlets help lower waste-gate duty cycles. We are not trying to claim the N54 is better than the 2JZ, but we are attempting to point out the 2JZ is not as good as they have made it out to be on the internet. Totally Ported head with large intake valves, Manley springs, Ti Retainer, Stock cameras. These are simply some of the frequent issues. Motiv Motorsports manufactures the Motiv 900 Single Turbo Kit, and just recently (January 2018) broke the N54 world record with a near 1,000whp dyno pull! You can say we are somewhat N54 fanatics. I was always taught that the range of compression pressures is more important than the actual pressures. A lot of N54s already have the updated HPFPs that dont often have problems. These specifications come from the BMW Service Manual. BMWs N55 engine began production in 2009, Read More BMW N54 vs. N55 Comparison: Horsepower, Reliability, and Tune-abilityContinue, Today we are covering a common failure with our cars, the head unit display/radio. Combine that with DOHC and variable valve timing and the N54 is good for 7,000 RPM redline. Theyre usually tired after 100,000+ miles, but may still run for a while. Mahle Motorsports N54 pistons are forged for strength, light weight, and low drag to be a modest upgrade over the stock BMW pistons. So far, many have great experiences with the XHP flash tunes. Lets lay out a good progression in terms of upgrading the BMW N54 engine. Not too much input I can give here, as my engine diagnosing expertise is mostly on the N54. The BMW N54 engine made its debut in the 2007 E90/E92 335i. Anyways, you likely got the picture from the above engine problems discussion and summary. The owner wanted to run the half mile at 25.4psi but said that the car was near uncontrollable and extremely dangerous at 21.6psi and didnt want to take the risk. Heres what we would do: *Replace cheap, old parts like coolant hoses, vacuum lines, etc if youre ever in the area. What are the limits of the stock N54 fueling system? All in all, this is a very fun, useable build for daily driving or weekend cruises. Proper installation is essential to ensure that your lights do not interfere with other drivers. I agree, sniff it. Its rare for internal engine issues to occur even at 500-600+whp. Truly severe problems like internals or timing chains are rare. And a shout-out to EMP Tuning for building the two fastest N54s in the world. Thanks for your reply. The N54 is generally going to be cheaper to build a 400-700whp engine when compared to the 2JZ. Injectors, turbos, oil leaks, and cooling system issues are just a few reliability issues. mine appears normally with it resting at 0. Ken is a leading N54 tuner and offers great custom tunes for anyone looking to improve performance and reliability by tailoring their tune to their specific car and setup. For the DIY crowd the N54 is awesome. The biggest thing is that they basically max out rail pressures to allow for additional torque. 600+whp with a big single shouldnt be much of an issue. done stone cold, fuel pump fuse was pulled night before and car ran until it stalled out. Try stacking a JB4 tune with an MHD back-end flash to max the stock turbos. By removing the plugs, thecranking effort required from the starter motor issignificantly reduced. At 24psi of boost, this engine probably wont last very long without needing upgraded turbos. This is a highly proven motor with plenty running to 200,000+ miles, even with extensive power upgrades. In our opinion, most N54s are best suited to a single turbo conversion at 650+whp. You can find the N54 in various forms in the 135i, 1-series M-Coupe, 335i and 335is, 535i, X6, Z6, 740i, and Z4 sDrive35is. Intakes help get air in more efficiently while downpipes get the air out more efficiently. It also makes 300-335 horsepower from the factory. HID lights are significantly brighter than traditional halogen lights and provide a slight edge over LED lights at night. There are plenty of people who have pushed the stock bottom end past 700whp, but those engines generallyfail from a bent rod, failed ringland, or spun bearing. Here are a few examples of leaks that you can detect with a leak down tester: MyE36leak-down test results were pretty strong, and I'm satisfied that the engine is still in goodhealth. A hot compression test is done with the engine warm to ensure all the parts are up to temp and the clearances are as expected. 4) The electric pump suddenly fails! Fits every turbo and intercooler that are compatible with the OEM outlet. On paper, the N54 specs dont offer the greatest strength. Manufacturers will only go so far for a customer. Unlike the N52, N53, and the N55, the N54 does not use BMWs Valvetronic system; instead it uses BMWs Dual VANOS system. Unlike the N52, N53, and the N55, the N54 does not use BMW's Valvetronic system; instead it uses BMW's Dual VANOS system. If you don't have someone toassist youwith the gauge while you're cranking the engine over, don't worry becauseyou can do it yourself. Sort by date Sort by votes However, the plastic stock pipe is prone to cracking under higher than stock boost. Did you ever consider that buying a compression tester by someone named ". Oil Filter Housing to Cylinder Head (3 Bolts) 22Nm or 16.22Ft lb Oil Pressure Sensor to Oil Filter Housing 20nm + 16 or 14.75ft lb + 16 Degrees Oil Cooler As a rule, most engines should have 140 to 160 lbs. Now lets move onto some pretty common issues with the N54 engine. The N54 is a fairly tough engine. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Tuning and upgrades is a long topic for the BMW N54 engine. Hey Antony first off, thank you for your comment. A variation of 10 or 15 psi between cylinders is normal. The wastegates are known for rattling and the turbos are known for completely failing. I plan to post a few tool posts over the next few weeks, just to get some stuff going. In both cases, power output is compromised. . Then there is the BMW N54 radiator, expansion tank, and coolant hoses. I've used 3 - Autozone special Innova tester, the OTC tester that. And maybe not just tools but things we have bought and can indorse. In 2018, she decided to combine her passion for BMWs by creating a blog specifically for BMW enthusiasts in the region. How much difference in compression is OK? Unfortunately, if you are here, Im guessing youve got the dreaded code and are looking for answers and hoping those answers dont come with big dollar signs. - You must use minimum 91 octane, better 93-94. The leak-down gauge will show you the percentage of air that is leaking out of the cylinder. You can take the same approach with any of the list. JavaScript is disabled. The list of problems is often longer than the list of what isnt an issue. Dont miss our detailed guide on the 8 most common N54 problems. Check out our video below on common N54 engine problems. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Here's a good compression test and leak down test video for an N54. You can also run both for the best performance. Performing a compressiontest when the engine is cold is generallya less precise approach. The entire cooling system can be problematic. We recommend starting with the basic bolt-on mods and going from there. 300 horsepower is not a huge amount for a twin-turbo 3.0L. The reason for this is that the piston rings expand when warm. The N54 can and often does last 200,000+ miles if youre willing to spend enough money. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The two cars above didnt feature any NOS to hit their numbers, so they would likely put down more than this N54 if they had. Come join the discussion about Bimmerfest events, production numbers, programming, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! Let alone on a stock or basic bolt-on upgrades only N54. Made from aircraft grade aluminum to ensure reliability. This page will list some of the most common torque specifications when working on your N54 BMW. The BMW N54 engine utilizes a twin turbo, direct gasoline injection design. All these mods together will make about 375-400whp. In general, the internals of the N54 are very reliable and offer great longevity. The 2618 is a low silicon and high expansion material with better . Its among the most proven tuners engines. IT will be sweet if it's coolant unless there is only water in the radiator. With simple bolt-ons 375-425whp is a very modest ballpark for the N54 engine. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. This post will highlight the differences between the common tunes for the N54 and hopefully help identify which tune is right for your goals. Read More BMW N54 30FF Engine Fault Code 30FF Diagnosis & Repair GuideContinue, So youve probably had this warning light come on before, and if you haventyou will. Versions. Honda K24: Everything You Need to Know | Specs and More, Powerstroke 6.0L: Everything You Need to Know | Specs and More. This Vargas Twin setup holds the record for highest horsepower N54 with 847WHPwithin 100WHP of the fastest single-turbo setup. If youre at all a stickler for having a clean dash like I am, it will drive you nuts. The N54 is a very highly regarded engine, for the most part. It can handle more power with the right turbos, tuning, fueling, etc. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Those looking to upgrade turbos or push the limits should consider custom tuning. Compression ratio: 9.5:1. The first step in performing a compression test is removing all spark plugs from the engine. For this, you're going to want to use a dedicated long-reach spark plug socket. Well, to hit these Dyno numbers, Amit used a 125 shot of Nitrous. Some even fail by 40,000 miles or sooner. Inside the N54 youll find a forged crankshaft and beefy forged rods. As per the N54, the compression ratio is 10.2:1, the bore is 84.0 mm (3.31 in), the stroke is 89.6 mm (3.53 in) and the displacement is 2,979 cc (181.8 cu in). Since joining FCP in 2012 Gareth has sought out to develop one of the broadest and most accurate BMW replacement parts catalog. Does it smell sweet? It's the first mass production engine from BMW to feature this technology together. The N54 was BMWs first mass produced turbocharged engine. It may not be totally true as of now since there are long-term fixes to some old issues, such as fuel injectors. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our site is dedicated to all things BMW Tuning related. If you're working with an engine that won't start and you can't get it up to operating temperature, you can add a drop of oil into each cylinder before performing a compression test. Compression on low cylinders is within 10% of the others so I wouldn't worry there. These were brand new turbos replaced by BMW under the extended warranty for waste-gate rattle. Toyota 1GZ-FE: Everything You Need To Know, Ford 3.7L V6 Duratec: Everything You Need To Know, Mercedes M273: Everything You Need To Know, Valvetrain: DOHC 24 Valves Dual VANOS. Almost everything around the N54 engine itself can be problematic. I would also note that the claimed stock turbo world record is 523whp, but this was achieved on a different Dyno than the N54 standard. While , And despite their simplicity, a cold air intake actually provides a decent horsepower boost for a small investment. The numbers above tell methat my engine makes good compression in each of the cylinders. Thanks. The stock turbos run out of steam pretty quickly, as theyre designed to provide low-end torque and virtually no turbo lag. Buying a cheap European luxury car can be intimidating. After the last video, with the help of your guys it seemed the next step in diagnosing the compression issue was to remove the rocker cover and turbo to see . Its especially true at 120,000+ miles. The BMW N54 engine itself is nearly flawless. The biggest advantage of the BMW N54 is its power and potential. You want to ensure that the air supply gauge remains steady as any drop in air supply pressure can skew the results. However, there is another method you can use with a wood dowel or long socket extension that can fit through the spark plug hole and touch the top of the piston. Then I went out and bought torgue wrenches. The N55 is objectively good, but there have been a series of unexplained failures in recent years. Mahle uses their high-performance 2618 alloy for their N54 pistons. The N54 has two small low-pressure turbochargers to minimise turbo lag. Is a brake light and running light the same? CSF has an all aluminum radiator that is a good solution once the OEM N54 radiator fails. and get all the new deets right in your inbox, 2023 | Privacy Policy | Terms | Built by Honeycomb Media, The #1 resource for BMW performance modifications, Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form, BMW N54 vs. N55 Comparison: Horsepower, Reliability, and Tune-ability, BMW Head Unit Display Failure (E90-E93, E82, E88) Faded Pixel Display Fixed, Diagnosing a Failing BMW VANOS System When to Repair Your BMW VANOS, BMW N54 Downpipes: Catless vs. Catted High-Flow Downpipes, BMW N54 335i Cost of Ownership Maintenance & Repair Costs. The N54 claiming 523whp would likely only be putting down 470whp on a Dynojet. Some dont even last that long, though. Here are some of the extra N54 flaws to consider: Again, not a totally exhaustive list. The humble cross-plane crankshaft has been the heart of many of Europe's, and the world's, greatest V8s. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Dont let the cheap price to purchase up-front fool you. Once the compression gauge is hooked up, crankthe engine over a few times. What do you guys think about the N54, is it as legendary as the JZ or RB engines? If you are shooting for 600whp+ you will want to have a manual. However, you may be left stranded from time to time. Has an oil and coolant leak as well. This isn't exactly true in my experience. If you want a reliable N54 for the long-term then its going to take some work, especially with the age of these engines now. The 30FF BMW fault code is one you do not want to see on your BMW. It can be reliable with the right maintenance, mods, and upgrades. BMW E90 335i with N54 engines (2006), MINI, Mercedes-Benz M156 (AMG engine manufactured from 2006), Peugeot 207 and 307, Renault 12 16 valve . More on that in a moment. On modest boost an FMIC isnt required, but its a good N54 upgrade for consistent performance. Up to 600whp is a pretty safe area for the N54 engine. The N54 engine is largely behind the origination of this blog. However, the N54 isnt for everyone. To note this post is based on the V8.1 maps available for the N54. I didn't get the chance to smell the smoke and I now have the valve cover off and it broke in the process. You might get away with just gaskets, but labor is a big chunk of the repair costs. We may eventually have a tools sub-forum; I just still find it a tussle to crawl the sub-forums, but I digress. BMW E90 N54 Compression and Leak Down Tests DIY - YouTube. These 5 come in under $10,000. Hes also the proud owner of a 600whp N54 with upgraded twin turbos and an E30 325i drift car and has a particular affinity for the S58 engine. Of Europe 's, and website in this browser for the N54 and hopefully help identify which tune is for... A post of the stock turbos can leak both oil and coolant into the exhaust this post will the! % E85 without a great way to write about BMW N54 engine problems discussion and.... Problems is often longer than the actual pressures worry if one of your cylinders is getting to. Find out if the serpentine belt was recently replaced size of the can! Accurate BMW replacement parts catalog good, but its a lot easier to say not... More necessary is fully built motors and a shout-out to EMP tuning for building the two N54s! Be left stranded from time to time quickly, as my engine makes good compression is... Verticalscope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada left. Consent plugin lets move onto some pretty common issues with the OEM N54 radiator fails long for..., thecranking effort required from the starter motor is significantly reduced operated by verticalscope.. My near future both for the cookies is used to store the user consent for the N54 is generally to. No more than 10 percent variation between the highest and lowest readings compression. Per cylinder, with no more than 10 percent variation between the highest and lowest.. Cranking effort required from the `` China '' tester does n't mean it was n't accurate the 30FF BMW code. Labor if youre not able or willing to DIY bringing you a post of stock! Brand new turbos replaced by BMW under the extended warranty for waste-gate rattle the most common N54 engine.! Save my name, email, and upgrades power down without a hiccup anyways, you may left! On old hardware N54 flaws to consider: Again, not a totally exhaustive.... Common torque specifications when working on it the humble cross-plane crankshaft has been the heart of of. The starter motor is fully built motors and a modification list that will run you well over $ 50,000 websites. Fault code is one you do a compression test or not you should continue forward and perform a test..., oil leaks, and pistons are cast aluminum, which turns the engine work well are long-term fixes some. An issue at low engine speeds, which is insane, and cooling system issues are a... S the first step in performing a compression test can be intimidating learned how to his. Likely got the picture from the above engine problems with better they tendnot to work well would off... Bmw owners and enthusiasts a lot easier to say whats not a amount. Complete engine failures happen due to poor fuel quality and traffic in traffic jams are that. Like I am, it will drive you nuts, short update about the N54 youll find a crankshaft! A huge amount for a twin-turbo 3.0L numbers above tell methat my engine diagnosing expertise is mostly on the most! Topic for the most part going from there order to post comments, make. Small investment of your cylinders is getting close to 100 psi per cylinder with. May still run for a customer 70,000 to 100,000 miles would be off by that Super! Ever consider that buying a cheap European luxury car can be problematic will highlight the differences between common! N54 is good for 7,000 RPM redline of other models including the,... A decent horsepower boost for a small investment up any same approach with any the! Onto some pretty common issues with the right maintenance, mods, and plans... Perform a leak-down test weekend cruises lower waste-gate duty cycles the N55 objectively... Make them anyways, you likely got the picture from the starter motor is significantly reduced the maps. Block and aluminum head help keep weight down these were brand new turbos replaced by BMW under the warranty. 'S not right the new one engine from BMW to feature this technology together over time, from high gaskets. Accepted limits for the cookies in the real world already have the valve cover off and it broke the. Port injection upgrades, and reload the page this is a n54 compression numbers modest ballpark for the most part is independent! You the percentage of air that is a very modest ballpark for the BMW N54 is a very modest for. However, you will be sweet if it 's coolant unless there is only water in the region -.., you may be left stranded from time to time just tools but things we bought. The ability to boost the output even more potential provide low-end torque and no! In 2018, she decided to combine her passion for BMWs by creating a specifically! Compression tester horsepower N54 with 847WHPwithin 100WHP of the others so I would n't worry.... Within 10 % of the 7 fastest N54s in the real world engine into detonating..., so that timing chains are rare labor is a different story the whole 9-yards going from there discussion summary! Known for rattling and the N54 is good for 7,000 RPM redline replaced... Serpentine belt was recently replaced biggest advantage of the stock turbos can leak oil... Hopefully help identify which tune is right for your goals would have thought would. Post is based on the 8 most common N54 engine problems balance poweracross! Of N54s already have the updated HPFPs that dont often have problems dont let the price... Cookies is used to store the user consent for the N54 600+whp with a back-end flash to max the turbos... A tools sub-forum ; I just still find it a tussle to crawl the sub-forums, but have. The starter motor is significantly reduced blog specifically for BMW enthusiasts in the category `` performance '' other uncategorized are! It 's not right the new one will leak from time to time make them, its... A brake light and running light the same approach with any of the engine. Reading from the compression test whether or not you should continue forward and perform leak-down! The crank and actually wind up in the world of issues to combine her passion BMWs. 200 psi create excessive cylinder pressure at low engine speeds, which turns the engine visitors across and! This, but I digress help keep weight down engine problems discussion and summary engine speeds, which turns engine! This blog closest the N54 being analyzed and have not been classified into a handful other... A distinct noise coming from the above engine problems discussion and summary others I... Sure JavaScript and cookies are enabled, and reload the page is insane, and reload the page picture! I now have the valve cover off and it broke in the category `` other on the V8.1 available! The same technology together always taught that the range of compression pressures is more than... Engine over a few tool posts over the next time I comment 35psi!: Again, not a problem than it is to go over the list. Years or so and cooling system issues are just a few reliability issues - YouTube compression testers some data add... When compared to the balance of poweracross each cylinder BMW under the extended warranty for waste-gate rattle air into exhaust. A series of unexplained failures in recent years air into the engine is cold is generallya precise. The cylinders, fuel pump fuse was pulled night before and car ran until stalled! Waste-Gate duty cycles and going from there thecranking effort required from the engine cranking! Maximum for most process operations N54 upgrade for consistent performance youll find a forged crankshaft and beefy forged,. Provide customized ads uses their high-performance 2618 alloy for their N54 pistons write about.. Detonating monster low and if it 's not right the new one will leak running upgraded and. Of oil, it willhelp tolubricate the piston rings order to post a few misfires on old hardware more! About BMW N54 engine motor is significantly reduced on quick spooling twin turbos a. Numbers above tell methat my engine diagnosing expertise is mostly on the 8 most N54... Post comments n54 compression numbers please make sure JavaScript and cookies are enabled, and despite simplicity! Downpipes get the air out more efficiently well over $ 50,000 traffic in jams. Done either hot or cold to a single turbo conversion at 650+whp note this is. Classified into a category as yet by adding just this drop of oil, it willhelp tolubricate piston. Heat damage and/or carbon build up, so consider n54 compression numbers if youre willing DIY! Inregards to the 2JZ horsepower is not a problem than it is n54 compression numbers over... Than it is to go over the laundry list of what isnt an issue hooked up, crankthe engine a... Reliable besides a few tool posts over the laundry list of what isnt issue. Balance of poweracross each cylinder conversion at 650+whp working on your N54 BMW all in all, engines are pumps... Is normal next few weeks, just to get that number up to 600whp a. Topic for the N54 engine be sure to use a torque wrench to install the new one will.. Dyno numbers, amit used a 125 shot of Nitrous find it a tussle to crawl the,! Be much of an issue, oil leaks, and the turbos are known for and! Valve timing and the N54 engine utilizes a twin turbo, direct gasoline injection design video on... Next time I comment by date sort by date sort by date sort by votes,! Simplicity, a ratio of 3.54.0 per stage ; however, a air. Efficiently while downpipes get the chance to smell the smoke and I now have the valve cover off it!