Im confused... Whats better? N54 vs N55?

[_Jono_]

I dont understand.. The N54 had a recall for the pump?...And yeah. Anything going on with the N55. Whats the better motor? More reliable..more tunable..more safer? N54 or n55

[shockin330i]

Originally Posted by _Jono_

I dont understand.. The N54 had a recall for the pump?...And yeah. Anything going on with the N55. Whats the better motor? More reliable..more tunable..more safer? N54 or n55

Mods please close this thread. It will turn into nothing but bickering.

Search is your friend. There are literally hundreds of threads about this. All end up in an enormous penis measuring contest.

[MarkR171]

That's a bit of an exaggeration there shockin, but to put it simply:

N54: Been out longer, more parts available and tunes more readily available. Slightly higher max horsepower potential. Stronger in the mid range. Stock exhaust has 4 cats, 1 in each downpipe and 2 in the midpipes.

N55: Newer, less parts available, less tunes available. Slightly lower max horsepower potential. Stronger in the lower RPMs, and possibly higher. Stock exhaust has 1 cat in the downpipe, none in the midpipe. Has Valvetronic.



Neither engine is significantly "better" in any way.

[bryce]

/thread

[Andrew@ET]

If you do not plan to make it a 450 hp monstor I would go with the new n55.. I own one and its alot more enjoyable in daily driving vs the n54. The low torque feels great Esp when you add a tune such as the jb3.

Then again 99% of people couldnt even tell the differnce.

[rsjean]

Many reviewers after having driven BMW's with both engines feel the N54 is a better performing powerplant. BMW must also feel it has an edge hence "While the face-lifted 2011 BMW 335i coupes will be offered with the N55, the N54 will be retained in the higher-performing 335is".
And, as already stated, the N54's tune potential is better than the N55's.

I have driven 135is with both the N54 and N55 and own the N54 equiped version. My takeaway is that the N54 is indeed the better performing. My 135i has the GIAC tune with a 'stock' setting so when I compare it's 'stock' to stock.

Either I'm part of the 1% that can tell a difference but with a different opinion or I fail and I'm starting my own 1% group.

[shockin330i]

Originally Posted by rsjean

Many reviewers after having driven BMW's with both engines feel the N54 is a better performing powerplant. BMW must also feel it has an edge hence "While the face-lifted 2011 BMW 335i coupes will be offered with the N55, the N54 will be retained in the higher-performing 335is".
And, as already stated, the N54's tune potential is better than the N55's.

I have driven 135is with both the N54 and N55 and own the N54 equiped version. My takeaway is that the N54 is indeed the better performing. My 135i has the GIAC tune with a 'stock' setting so when I compare it's 'stock' to stock.

Either I'm part of the 1% that can tell a difference but with a different opinion or I fail and I'm starting my own 1% group.

They stayed with the n54 for the 335is because of the time frame they were given. They did not have enough time to do R&D on the new engine, hence why they stayed with the n54... But lets not get too much in to this and lets close this thread.

[JHOOPS2]

The N54 is loads better..





/thread

[FDfranklin]

Originally Posted by JHOOPS2

The N54 is loads better..





/thread

Loads of what?

[JHOOPS2]

Loads of who the f#ck knows or cares

[SlicktopTTZ]

More safer?

Seriously, if you want to mod, buy a N54. If you want slightly better gas mileage, buy a N55.

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by shockin330i

They stayed with the n54 for the 335is because of the time frame they were given. They did not have enough time to do R&D on the new engine, hence why they stayed with the n54... But lets not get too much in to this and lets close this thread.

Thats purely speculation on your part unless of course you can provide BMW documentation stating the same.

[bryce]

non-speculation:

-the n54 crank is forged, the n55 crank is not. n54 has a stronger crank

-dyno sheets verify the n54 has better midrange and power doesn't fall off as abruptly as the n55. n55 looses significant power after 5.5-6k rpms, while the n54 can hold power longer

-the twin turbo setup on the n54 is a better platform to make 400+ whp on stock turbo's

-according to shiv (vishnu) and other mfgs, the n55 won't be able to make the same level of power on the stock turbo

[shockin330i]

Originally Posted by NYC6

Thats purely speculation on your part unless of course you can provide BMW documentation stating the same.

There have been plenty of articles stating just that.

[Brandon26pdx]

Mods, please do not close this thread as I haven't had my daily dose of entertainment yet.

[Brandon26pdx]

Originally Posted by JHOOPS2

The N54 is loads better..





/thread

I'll admit the N54 looks better under the hood.

[MarkR171]

Originally Posted by bryce

-according to shiv (vishnu) and other mfgs, the n55 won't be able to make the same level of power on the stock turbo

Also according to shiv, a DCT N55 with just tune is just as quick as full bolt on N54 with tune

[bryce]

Originally Posted by MarkR171

Also according to shiv, a DCT N55 with just tune is just as quick as full bolt on N54 with tune

k. i believe his actual quote was it "feels just as fast." i highly doubt a tune only dct could keep up with a 450 whp fully modded n54. if it makes you feel better, we can say that though

[ErvGotti]

Originally Posted by bryce

k. i believe his actual quote was it "feels just as fast." i highly doubt a tune only dct could keep up with a 450 whp fully modded n54. if it makes you feel better, we can say that though

+1 He was complementing the DCT more than anything, which after testing one is awesome, but I just cant see myself getting rid of my 6M

[shockin330i]

What Shiv said was that a 340-350hp n55 with dct was equal to a 370/380hp 6 speed n54.

[bryce]

Originally Posted by shockin330i

What Shiv said was that a 340-350hp n55 with dct was equal to a 370/380hp 6 speed n54.

lol. since people keep mis-quoting what he said, here's the exact quote:

-DCT Transmission is incredible. Even at this moderate tune-only state, the 135 feels about as quick as a fully bolt-on equipped n54 car with 6AT or 6MT. I can see this car put down some alarmingly good 1/4 mile times.

[shockin330i]

*edit*