n54 vs s65

Swimjim · 01-21-2016, 09:12 AM

this has probably been asked before, but what if....

the n51/52 motor dies in your 128 and you could swap in a different motor, would you swap in a turbo n54/55 or stay n/a and go to an s65?

pros/cons...

RoundelM3 · 01-21-2016, 09:56 AM

The S65 swap has been done - very expensive and probably not worth it. Moving to an N54/N55 would be less expensive, but still costly and, as with the S65, will require a complete ECU swap plus the addition of an oil cooler and intercooler. Personally, if the wife's 128i M-Sport 6MT convertible's engine died, I'd probably replace it with another N52 - a lot simpler and no electronics/oil cooler/intercooler/exhaust plumbing swap-out/addition required. You could make some modifications like ZHP cams, 3-stage intake manifold, headers, software upgrade, etc. for a lot less than a turbo engine or an E9x M3 V8.

PopsnBurbles · 01-21-2016, 10:24 AM

Personally, S65 because of more power, NA, V8, high revving, and glorious sound. I like powerful NA cars and I like V8's so I guess I'm a bit biased. If you're going for a swap anyway, why not go for something more special and unique. From what I've seen online, the S65 is only 15lbs more than the N54. An N54/55 swap would be stupid because you may as well buy a 135i and mod it from there.

Ultimately, the smartest decision is to swap back in an N52/51.

ilikebmxbikes · 01-21-2016, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swimjim

this has probably been asked before, but what if....

the n51/52 motor dies in your 128 and you could swap in a different motor, would you swap in a turbo n54/55 or stay n/a and go to an s65?

pros/cons...

it just depends on how you intend to use the car. If an n51/52 motor dies, its best to replace it with an n51/52. If you want an n54, get a 135i. They are dirt cheap these days and the cost of swapping would likely be near the value of the car.

If you want something unique to drive on the track, drop in the s65 but be expected to pay $25-30k all in.

Swimjim · 01-21-2016, 12:49 PM

thanks. all interesting points of view.

Bimmer-Bob · 01-21-2016, 01:55 PM

I guess if I had to choose one of the two, it would be the S65, for reasons already stated:

If you want an N54/5, just buy a 135i.
A V8 in this little car would be bad ass.

Either way it would be very expensive undertaking, and would require a new transmission, ECU, intake and exhaust manifolds, etc.

RedRanger · 01-21-2016, 03:39 PM

If you want a V8, just drop a foxbody 5.0 in it. Cheap and can be found everywhere.

Let the hissing and boo's begin!

Suprgnat · 01-21-2016, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedRanger

If you want a V8, just drop a foxbody 5.0 in it. Cheap and can be found everywhere.

Let the hissing and boo's begin!

RedRanger · 01-21-2016, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

It was hard for me to post as I hate foxbody and 90's mustangs. But when you can pick up a 5.0 with 50k on it for 650 dollars, it is hard to shell out 9-12k for a S65. The V8 would not be my swap choice if my motor went out.

Dafttt · 01-21-2016, 10:05 PM

S65 over the N54.

LS over the S65.

*sips budweiser* YOU HEARD ME!!

RoundelM3 · 01-22-2016, 09:15 AM

Well hell, then...if money's no object, get the V8 from an F-series M5 or M6 and shoehorn that sucker in there. If 420 HP is good, then ~600 would be much better! Or, for a more moderate approach, how about the 500+ HP V10 from the E60 M5? All of these choices will at least keep the car all-BMW. But, as mentioned in another post, the electrical/ECU issues will be killer, particularly if you were to use a "Detroitus" engine.

Swimjim · 01-22-2016, 11:35 AM

600 hp in a 1-series... that car would jump when the go-pedal was tapped! next time i when the lottery!!!

3002 tii · 01-22-2016, 09:32 PM

Why would you swap in a n54? You may as well just buy a 135i at that point. S65 all the way.

mechavore884 · 01-24-2016, 12:28 PM

+1 for the LS crowd

*picks up riot shield*

Taskmaster · 01-25-2016, 01:25 AM

S54

PKumarM3 · 01-25-2016, 06:22 AM

s85

all4bspinnin · 01-25-2016, 07:13 AM

It all depends on how deep your pockets are... I wouldn't do the N54. I'd either do the S65 or an LS3 if your pockets aren't as deep.

andrey_gta · 01-25-2016, 12:59 PM

For some reason I want to say a 4 cyl motor with Turbo...Perhaps the new B48 or that crazy race tuned n45 BMW 320si

Taskmaster · 01-25-2016, 04:11 PM

The B series motors seem like they woll lack tunability, I would do a N55 though.

zapatista · 01-25-2016, 09:19 PM

How about an an m62? Not sure if it's even feasible but you can find sub-$1,000 blocks pretty easy. Also, I've got a 1997 540i (E39) so it is closer than it sounds.

On topic: An S65 with money not being a concern.

01-21-2016, 09:12 AM	#1
Swimjim Private First Class 24 Rep 177 Posts Drives: 2008 128i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: TX iTrader: (1)	n54 vs s65 this has probably been asked before, but what if.... the n51/52 motor dies in your 128 and you could swap in a different motor, would you swap in a turbo n54/55 or stay n/a and go to an s65? pros/cons...
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01-21-2016, 09:56 AM	#2
RoundelM3 Major General 1834 Rep 6,989 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	The S65 swap has been done - very expensive and probably not worth it. Moving to an N54/N55 would be less expensive, but still costly and, as with the S65, will require a complete ECU swap plus the addition of an oil cooler and intercooler. Personally, if the wife's 128i M-Sport 6MT convertible's engine died, I'd probably replace it with another N52 - a lot simpler and no electronics/oil cooler/intercooler/exhaust plumbing swap-out/addition required. You could make some modifications like ZHP cams, 3-stage intake manifold, headers, software upgrade, etc. for a lot less than a turbo engine or an E9x M3 V8. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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01-21-2016, 10:24 AM	#3
PopsnBurbles Captain 192 Rep 893 Posts Drives: 135is :) 192/586 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: LA, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2013 BMW 135is Coup ... [10.00]	Personally, S65 because of more power, NA, V8, high revving, and glorious sound. I like powerful NA cars and I like V8's so I guess I'm a bit biased. If you're going for a swap anyway, why not go for something more special and unique. From what I've seen online, the S65 is only 15lbs more than the N54. An N54/55 swap would be stupid because you may as well buy a 135i and mod it from there. Ultimately, the smartest decision is to swap back in an N52/51.
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01-21-2016, 12:49 PM	#5
Swimjim Private First Class 24 Rep 177 Posts Drives: 2008 128i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: TX iTrader: (1)	thanks. all interesting points of view.
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01-21-2016, 01:55 PM	#6
Bimmer-Bob ! 693 Rep 3,266 Posts Drives: 2010 128i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Anacortes, WA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2010 BMW 128i (E82) [9.25]	I guess if I had to choose one of the two, it would be the S65, for reasons already stated: If you want an N54/5, just buy a 135i. A V8 in this little car would be bad ass. Either way it would be very expensive undertaking, and would require a new transmission, ECU, intake and exhaust manifolds, etc.
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01-21-2016, 03:39 PM	#7
RedRanger Lieutenant 71 Rep 541 Posts Drives: 2008 128i Sedona Red Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: St. Louis, MO iTrader: (2)	If you want a V8, just drop a foxbody 5.0 in it. Cheap and can be found everywhere. Let the hissing and boo's begin! __________________ 2008 Sedona Red 128i Black Chrome powder coated VMR 710's 18's, Carbon fiber engine bay cover and intake, Carbon fiber interior trim, Demon eyebrows, euro intake, performance brace, black grills, Magnaflow exhaust, Stage 3IM, AA Tune
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01-21-2016, 10:05 PM	#10
Dafttt Captain 33 Rep 691 Posts Drives: 128i 6MT Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Malibu iTrader: (0)	S65 over the N54. LS over the S65. sips budweiser YOU HEARD ME!!
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01-22-2016, 09:15 AM	#11
RoundelM3 Major General 1834 Rep 6,989 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	Well hell, then...if money's no object, get the V8 from an F-series M5 or M6 and shoehorn that sucker in there. If 420 HP is good, then ~600 would be much better! Or, for a more moderate approach, how about the 500+ HP V10 from the E60 M5? All of these choices will at least keep the car all-BMW. But, as mentioned in another post, the electrical/ECU issues will be killer, particularly if you were to use a "Detroitus" engine. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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01-22-2016, 11:35 AM	#12
Swimjim Private First Class 24 Rep 177 Posts Drives: 2008 128i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: TX iTrader: (1)	600 hp in a 1-series... that car would jump when the go-pedal was tapped! next time i when the lottery!!!
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01-22-2016, 09:32 PM	#13
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2282 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.22]	Why would you swap in a n54? You may as well just buy a 135i at that point. S65 all the way. __________________ Follow for latest mods
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01-24-2016, 12:28 PM	#14
mechavore884 Lieutenant 35 Rep 528 Posts Drives: the fat mobile Join Date: May 2013 Location: NOVA iTrader: (3)	+1 for the LS crowd picks up riot shield __________________ 6MT/CDV Delete/Injen Intake/berk race exhaust/ Cyba Scoops/ECS cryo rotors/Axxis ultimate pads/H&R coils/BBS LM-esque lol/BMW PE front/whiteline sway/and did i mention 2200 at 1 ohm ...eyeing the auto diff currently
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01-25-2016, 01:25 AM	#15
Taskmaster Banned 2465 Rep 9,004 Posts Drives: M235i 6MT / E92 328 Msport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Florida iTrader: (6)	S54
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01-25-2016, 06:22 AM	#16
PKumarM3 Air India 145 Rep 1,834 Posts Drives: 2018 Dodge Durango Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ iTrader: (8)	s85 __________________ PKumarM3
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01-25-2016, 07:13 AM	#17
all4bspinnin Second Lieutenant 38 Rep 206 Posts Drives: 09 135i LeMans Blue/Terracota Join Date: May 2015 Location: Jax, FL iTrader: (0)	It all depends on how deep your pockets are... I wouldn't do the N54. I'd either do the S65 or an LS3 if your pockets aren't as deep.
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01-25-2016, 12:59 PM	#18
andrey_gta Brigadier General 298 Rep 4,040 Posts Drives: 130i coupé ;) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bimmerpost iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [10.00]	For some reason I want to say a 4 cyl motor with Turbo...Perhaps the new B48 or that crazy race tuned n45 BMW 320si __________________ 128i Sport 6MT converted to Euro 130i spec, 3.73 diff, tuned by evolve ~220 whp 207 wtq(ft-lb) SAE In-progress: //M front arm, M3 rack, e36M lip Wishlist: Coils, n55 mnts, headers, LSD, e60 finn diff "The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is
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01-25-2016, 04:11 PM	#19
Taskmaster Banned 2465 Rep 9,004 Posts Drives: M235i 6MT / E92 328 Msport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Florida iTrader: (6)	The B series motors seem like they woll lack tunability, I would do a N55 though.
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01-25-2016, 09:19 PM	#20
zapatista Enlisted Member 9 Rep 49 Posts Drives: 2011 128i Vert 6MT Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0)	How about an an m62? Not sure if it's even feasible but you can find sub-$1,000 blocks pretty easy. Also, I've got a 1997 540i (E39) so it is closer than it sounds. On topic: An S65 with money not being a concern. __________________ A couple or fifteen mods. Last edited by zapatista; 01-25-2016 at 09:38 PM..
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