Distinguishing b/w N55/N54

FIRST1 · 10-20-2010, 05:41 PM

I guess I don't know as much about my sexy car as I should.
How do you know/whats the difference between a N54 and and N55?

magha · 10-20-2010, 06:02 PM

the n55 will have bmw twin power or something like thatwritten on the engine cover

eleven11 · 10-20-2010, 06:53 PM

evoalex · 10-20-2010, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RusselSimmons

Well I know I have a twin-turbo engine. Where's the engine cover anyway?

the thing that covers the engine? has a roundel on it in this pic.

Jeef Beef · 10-20-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RusselSimmons

Well I know I have a twin-turbo engine. Where's the engine cover anyway?

I probably feeding the troll, but pop your bonnet. Look down. The black plastic thing with the BMW roundel on it is your engine cover.

If you say you have twin-turbo, that's N54. Twin-POWER SINGLE TWIN SCROLL turbo is the N55.

Here are some pics if you still don't understand:

N54

N55

Dmacc · 10-20-2010, 07:30 PM

wow

Dackelone · 10-20-2010, 07:37 PM

N55

N55 w/intercooler

N54 w/o intercooler

1SerieStud · 10-20-2010, 07:45 PM

Easy way to tell - N55 cars have grey/silver brake calipers whereas N54 cars have darker/black brake calipers.

And then of course, the writing on the engine cover, as others mentioned, but for the first difference I just mentioned, there is no need to pop the hood.

SlickShift · 10-20-2010, 09:09 PM

^ Picture of brake calipers.

1SerieStud · 10-20-2010, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlickShift

^ Picture of brake calipers.

Here you go, this is my car - 2011 135i 6-sp. - calipers still have "BMW" letters on them (which you can't see on this picture because the spoke is on the way), but the actual caliper itself is silver/grey, instead of black.

Andrew@ET · 10-20-2010, 09:51 PM

I don't remember them ever being black??

FIRST1 · 10-20-2010, 11:02 PM

I guess I'm making myself look more foolish (?)
But is one better than the other?

BrokenVert · 10-20-2010, 11:48 PM

Yes the original brake calipers were sparkling graphite while the new caliper color is space grey. It's funny how one color has fully replaced the other

FIRST1 · 10-20-2010, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxnix

Define "better", please.

Well, what's the difference between them?

BrokenVert · 10-21-2010, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RusselSimmons

Well, what's the difference between them?

Almost nothing. They have identical bore and stroke. The N54 has a forged crankshaft, double vanos, twin turbos and is highly tunable.

The N55s crankshaft is cast, has double vanos and valvetronic a single twin scroll turbo and it has yet to be seen if it's highly tunable

Kcyrusm · 10-21-2010, 10:54 AM

For someone with little to no knowledge about cars, they are pretty much the same thing. The N55 is on the 2011 135i. They changed the twin turbo in the N54 to a single turbo (twin scroll), but they both produce the same power. You probably wouldn't notice any differences judging by your posts. N55 gets slightly better gas mileage as well. There are more technical differences, but that's the simple, laymen's answer.

JHOOPS2 · 10-21-2010, 11:23 AM

Which one is better depends on your goals and what we know about each one right now. Right now if you don't really want to to a lot of modding then the N55 is a good choice. If you want to shoot for 350+rwhp and 400tq, then the N54 is your animal. This is based relatively on what we know now. Tomorrow everything may change. The N55 is just to new to know for sure at this time.

-Jeff

escobar929 · 10-21-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1SerieStud

Easy way to tell - N55 cars have grey/silver brake calipers whereas N54 cars have darker/black brake calipers.

And then of course, the writing on the engine cover, as others mentioned, but for the first difference I just mentioned, there is no need to pop the hood.

damn I didnt know that, I kinda like the new color

JHOOPS2 · 10-21-2010, 12:00 PM

I have silver gray calipers. N54 here. Sig image in sig. Or am I misunderstanding?

Black Sheep · 10-21-2010, 02:36 PM

BrokenVert · 10-21-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budz135i

Love the avatar pic...super funny

Black Sheep · 10-21-2010, 02:43 PM

Thanks

10-20-2010, 05:41 PM	#1
FIRST1 Major 109 Rep 1,048 Posts Drives: '15 M235i Melbourne Red Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (5)	Distinguishing b/w N55/N54 I guess I don't know as much about my sexy car as I should. How do you know/whats the difference between a N54 and and N55?
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10-20-2010, 06:02 PM	#2
magha Lieutenant 93 Rep 523 Posts Drives: '18 M2 AW 6 spd Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	the n55 will have bmw twin power or something like thatwritten on the engine cover __________________ 18 M2 6 Spd AW - VRSF DP / CP & Race FMIC, ER TIC & GFB DV+ with BM3 Stage 2 Retired 09 135 JB4 G5 ISO w/BEF, N54 Tuning Performance DPs, BMS DCI, ER Charge Pipe
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10-20-2010, 06:53 PM	#3
eleven11 Major 372 Rep 1,425 Posts Drives: -F85 X5M- Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Derby City iTrader: (0)	__________________ 2017 X5M - Current 2017 F31 Wagon - Current 2014 M5 ZCP - Retired 2011 135i Coupe - Retired 2007 335i Sedan - Retired
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10-20-2010, 07:30 PM	#6
Dmacc Colonel 200 Rep 2,799 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 1M Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: So Cal iTrader: (1)	wow
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10-20-2010, 07:37 PM	#7
Dackelone European Editor 10528 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	N55 N55 w/intercooler N54 w/o intercooler
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10-20-2010, 07:45 PM	#8
1SerieStud Brigadier General 183 Rep 3,939 Posts Drives: '11 VO 1M (498 of 740) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (11)	Easy way to tell - N55 cars have grey/silver brake calipers whereas N54 cars have darker/black brake calipers. And then of course, the writing on the engine cover, as others mentioned, but for the first difference I just mentioned, there is no need to pop the hood.
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10-20-2010, 09:09 PM	#9
SlickShift Lieutenant Colonel 323 Rep 1,804 Posts Drives: '11 BMW E90 M3 ZCP, '21 X5 ZMP Join Date: May 2007 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (7)	^ Picture of brake calipers. __________________ -Nick 2018 BMW 440i - M Sport, Exec Glacier Silver Metallic/Coral Red Dakota Retired: '00 323i, '06 325Ci, '09 135i, '06 Z4M Roadster, '93 525i, '76 2002, '14 X1, '14 M235i, '16 X4, '16 435i
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10-20-2010, 09:51 PM	#11
Andrew@ET Brigadier General 181 Rep 4,038 Posts Drives: Red thing Join Date: May 2007 Location: Earth iTrader: (9)	I don't remember them ever being black??
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10-20-2010, 11:02 PM	#12
FIRST1 Major 109 Rep 1,048 Posts Drives: '15 M235i Melbourne Red Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (5)	I guess I'm making myself look more foolish (?) But is one better than the other?
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10-20-2010, 11:48 PM	#13
BrokenVert Resident Kerbalnaut 477 Rep 10,703 Posts Drives: Topless Brute/Hybrid Boogaloo Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fahrvergnügen/NY iTrader: (0)	Yes the original brake calipers were sparkling graphite while the new caliper color is space grey. It's funny how one color has fully replaced the other __________________
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10-21-2010, 10:54 AM	#16
Kcyrusm Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 290 Posts Drives: 2012 335is DCT Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: N. VA iTrader: (1)	For someone with little to no knowledge about cars, they are pretty much the same thing. The N55 is on the 2011 135i. They changed the twin turbo in the N54 to a single turbo (twin scroll), but they both produce the same power. You probably wouldn't notice any differences judging by your posts. N55 gets slightly better gas mileage as well. There are more technical differences, but that's the simple, laymen's answer. __________________ ________________ BMS DCI \| AR Catless DP's \| ETS FMIC \| E38 Map Cobb Protuned by Jake@PTF 2012 BMW 335is: 11.926 @ 117.710 MPH (stock runflats)
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10-21-2010, 11:23 AM	#17
JHOOPS2 AKA HISSMAN 34 Rep 888 Posts Drives: 2009 SG 135i Coupe' Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (5)	Which one is better depends on your goals and what we know about each one right now. Right now if you don't really want to to a lot of modding then the N55 is a good choice. If you want to shoot for 350+rwhp and 400tq, then the N54 is your animal. This is based relatively on what we know now. Tomorrow everything may change. The N55 is just to new to know for sure at this time. -Jeff __________________ (FBO) Cobb Stage 2+, AR Downpipes, Injen DCI, AA (Sport) FMIC, ER Chargepipe/Synapse BOV, Carbon fiber bits and Breyton GTS-R Wheels.
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10-21-2010, 12:00 PM	#19
JHOOPS2 AKA HISSMAN 34 Rep 888 Posts Drives: 2009 SG 135i Coupe' Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (5)	I have silver gray calipers. N54 here. Sig image in sig. Or am I misunderstanding? __________________ (FBO) Cobb Stage 2+, AR Downpipes, Injen DCI, AA (Sport) FMIC, ER Chargepipe/Synapse BOV, Carbon fiber bits and Breyton GTS-R Wheels.
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10-21-2010, 02:36 PM	#20
Black Sheep A Zip an a Double Cup 80 Rep 4,462 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 135i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: McHenry, IL iTrader: (5)	__________________ PTF Tuned \| RB's \| AMS FMIC \| AR DP's \| HPF Exhaust \| CP-E DCI \| Apex Arc 8's \| 235/275 Star Specs \|
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10-21-2010, 02:43 PM	#22
Black Sheep A Zip an a Double Cup 80 Rep 4,462 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 135i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: McHenry, IL iTrader: (5)	Thanks __________________ PTF Tuned \| RB's \| AMS FMIC \| AR DP's \| HPF Exhaust \| CP-E DCI \| Apex Arc 8's \| 235/275 Star Specs \|
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