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      01-19-2018, 01:09 PM   #1
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Why do I want a N55?

I am looking for a 135i for a weekend fun and occasional track car. The idea was to throw some M3 bits and coilovers, and go FBO for some power on the street and track. Probably look at about 5k miles per year and I have a lift and can pretty much do all work myself.

Initially I wanted a twin turbo car, because well it is a twin turbo plus 400rwhp on pump gas seems pretty common. I am not worried about the HPFP issues, but I do want something that can be reliable at the track. That is why I expect to have two maps, a max effort street map (400rwhp ish) and a consistent track map (300rwhp ish).

The issue is most of the clean 1 series I see with the options I want are N55. So I know I will be giving up FBO power with a N55, but supposedly they are more reliable? What does that mean? What are the advantages of the N55? Transmission will be 6 speed either way.

Why do I want a N55?
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      01-19-2018, 01:35 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by Apex1.0 View Post
I am looking for a 135i for a weekend fun and occasional track car. The idea was to throw some M3 bits and coilovers, and go FBO for some power on the street and track. Probably look at about 5k miles per year and I have a lift and can pretty much do all work myself.

Initially I wanted a twin turbo car, because well it is a twin turbo plus 400rwhp on pump gas seems pretty common. I am not worried about the HPFP issues, but I do want something that can be reliable at the track. That is why I expect to have two maps, a max effort street map (400rwhp ish) and a consistent track map (300rwhp ish).

The issue is most of the clean 1 series I see with the options I want are N55. So I know I will be giving up FBO power with a N55, but supposedly they are more reliable? What does that mean? What are the advantages of the N55? Transmission will be 6 speed either way.

Why do I want a N55?
FBO N55's will see around 380 whp on an E30 blend compared to around 420 whp with an N54. The biggest difference between the two motors is low end torque. Obviously the N54 makes more top end power, but it does not have the same initial punch that the N55 does. I have driven 335's with N54's and N55's and that has been my observation. One thing to note as well is BMW changed the HPFP to a plunger style in 2012 on N55's that does not flow as well when you start running E85.

N55's have proven to be more reliable than N54's so far, but aren't without their problems. N55 fixed wastegate rattle and a few others that I can't think of at the moment, but issues like the electric water pump going out and OFHG replacement still remain.

Even so, if you are proactive and not reactive about maintenance on these engines, you will have a good owners experience.
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      01-19-2018, 02:16 PM   #3
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Pretty much everything said above and if you do plan on going heavy on the track days the DCT is pretty awesome. There might be better cooling with the N55 since it's a single turbo but I am not sure. I also haven't heard anything on the different styles of HPFP.
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      01-19-2018, 03:11 PM   #4
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So I will always be running 93 octane. With that said I would assume a FBO N55 can do 350rwhp?

Lets say I also have a N54 at 350rwhp. Which setup can be tracked more consistently? Which setup would be more likely to reduce power or go into limp?
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      01-19-2018, 03:12 PM   #5
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Also does FBO on a N54 or N55 include full inlet pipes?

Don't inlet pipes make a pretty big difference on a N54? N55?
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      01-19-2018, 03:28 PM   #6
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Also does FBO on a N54 or N55 include full inlet pipes?

Don't inlet pipes make a pretty big difference on a N54? N55?
Even on N54 those only really help with upgraded turbos. Stock N55 turbo is too small to benefit from a less restrictive inlet.

Usually FBO for N54/N55 means intake, downpipe, chargepipe, and upgraded intercooler.
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      01-19-2018, 03:40 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toome View Post
FBO N55's will see around 380 whp on an E30 blend compared to around 420 whp with an N54. The biggest difference between the two motors is low end torque. Obviously the N54 makes more top end power, but it does not have the same initial punch that the N55 does. I have driven 335's with N54's and N55's and that has been my observation. One thing to note as well is BMW changed the HPFP to a plunger style in 2012 on N55's that does not flow as well when you start running E85.

N55's have proven to be more reliable than N54's so far, but aren't without their problems. N55 fixed wastegate rattle and a few others that I can't think of at the moment, but issues like the electric water pump going out and OFHG replacement still remain.

Even so, if you are proactive and not reactive about maintenance on these engines, you will have a good owners experience.
What’s needed to run ethanol if you don’t mind me asking?
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      01-19-2018, 03:47 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toome View Post
Even on N54 those only really help with upgraded turbos. Stock N55 turbo is too small to benefit from a less restrictive inlet.

Usually FBO for N54/N55 means intake, downpipe, chargepipe, and upgraded intercooler.
Not to be stupid but what is the difference between an inlet and intake?

Thanks,
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      01-19-2018, 03:58 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dleccord View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toome View Post
FBO N55's will see around 380 whp on an E30 blend compared to around 420 whp with an N54. The biggest difference between the two motors is low end torque. Obviously the N54 makes more top end power, but it does not have the same initial punch that the N55 does. I have driven 335's with N54's and N55's and that has been my observation. One thing to note as well is BMW changed the HPFP to a plunger style in 2012 on N55's that does not flow as well when you start running E85.

N55's have proven to be more reliable than N54's so far, but aren't without their problems. N55 fixed wastegate rattle and a few others that I can't think of at the moment, but issues like the electric water pump going out and OFHG replacement still remain.

Even so, if you are proactive and not reactive about maintenance on these engines, you will have a good owners experience.
What’s needed to run ethanol if you don’t mind me asking?
It depends on your ethanol content but for an E30 blend on N55 you only need a tune. Anything higher than that is useless with the stock turbo IMO. LPFP and other fuel upgrades are really only needed for an upgraded turbo.
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      01-19-2018, 04:00 PM   #10
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Curious to see people chime in about N55’s with an upgraded turbo.

Also don’t think I saw this mentioned either, but N54’s have forged pistons IIRC
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      01-19-2018, 04:04 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Apex1.0 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toome View Post
Even on N54 those only really help with upgraded turbos. Stock N55 turbo is too small to benefit from a less restrictive inlet.

Usually FBO for N54/N55 means intake, downpipe, chargepipe, and upgraded intercooler.
Not to be stupid but what is the difference between an inlet and intake?

Thanks,
An "intake" is mostly just for a less restrictive filter and more sound. Relocated inlets (N54) replace all plumbing going to the turbo from the intake.
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      01-19-2018, 04:08 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by HyeWarrior View Post
Curious to see people chime in about N55’s with an upgraded turbo.

Also don’t think I saw this mentioned either, but N54’s have forged pistons IIRC
I believe only the early N54's have forged pistons.
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      01-19-2018, 04:18 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Apex1.0 View Post
So I will always be running 93 octane. With that said I would assume a FBO N55 can do 350rwhp?

Lets say I also have a N54 at 350rwhp. Which setup can be tracked more consistently? Which setup would be more likely to reduce power or go into limp?
I've heard that N54s are a little more likely to go into limp mode due to high oil temps, but if you plan to track your car often you should get an upgraded oil cooler anyway
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      01-19-2018, 09:43 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BimmerAg View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apex1.0 View Post
So I will always be running 93 octane. With that said I would assume a FBO N55 can do 350rwhp?

Lets say I also have a N54 at 350rwhp. Which setup can be tracked more consistently? Which setup would be more likely to reduce power or go into limp?
I've heard that N54s are a little more likely to go into limp mode due to high oil temps, but if you plan to track your car often you should get an upgraded oil cooler anyway
I have a stage 2+ n55 with around ~350whp. I have not yet tracked the car, but I have done quite a few rally's where I have driven the car extremely hard for extended amounts of time and have had ZERO issues. My oil temps have never gone above 255*F, even in hot Southern California weather.
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      01-20-2018, 07:15 AM   #15
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n54 = more power

n55 = more reliable power

I say this with the notion that both do not have upgraded turbos, oil coolers or radiators.

The n54s biggest downfall is cooling and wastegates. The above three items will fix those issues.

I enjoyed my n54 335s and n55 135, but the 135 never had any issues whereas my 335s did.
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      01-20-2018, 07:37 AM   #16
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Its hp vs power consistency. First, I am not running meth in either car. It's 93 octane only, all the time. I feel like a full effort n54 bolt on including complete inlets would be good for 450rwhp. While a fbo n55 would be good for 350rwhp. Is that fair? That assumes a 100whp difference.

On the street, I say advantage would go to the n54. However on the track, I know the n54 won't be able to deliver that kind of power consistently. I would guess it would have to be backed down to at least 350whp to run without ultra high oil temps and limp mode.

What about the n55? If max effort is 350whp, does it need to be backed down to run that consistently? Or can it handle running at max effort at the track too?
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      01-20-2018, 04:31 PM   #17
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One thing to think about is that upgrading the turbo on the n55 is considerably less money and simpler to install then the N54.

I know you said fbo, but in the future if you decide you want more power, the pure stage 1 will get you around 400whp for under a grand, a pure stage 2 can produce 450+ Whp on 93 only, or 500+ with meth or e85. It’s around 2500 with the inlet pipe. The ps2 is the way to go... I have it on my Dct car and it is awesome.

Also I think 450whp in N54 is a bit optimistic with stock turbos, it is possible but the turbos won’t last long
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      01-20-2018, 05:52 PM   #18
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PS2 turbos would be tough for me since 93 gas is incredibly hard to find in my area. May work if you have a dedicated DD
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      01-20-2018, 08:16 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gizmo135i View Post
One thing to think about is that upgrading the turbo on the n55 is considerably less money and simpler to install then the N54.

I know you said fbo, but in the future if you decide you want more power, the pure stage 1 will get you around 400whp for under a grand, a pure stage 2 can produce 450+ Whp on 93 only, or 500+ with meth or e85. It’s around 2500 with the inlet pipe. The ps2 is the way to go... I have it on my Dct car and it is awesome.

Also I think 450whp in N54 is a bit optimistic with stock turbos, it is possible but the turbos won’t last long
Bingo

As far as I am concerned a new turbo upgrade is bolt-on. So a n54 can really use full inlets, but a n55 not so much. Plus a n54 requires two down pipes. N55 only one. So the question is , is fbo actually less money on a n55 than a n54 and can that extra money just go into an upgraded turbo? Which is really bolt on too.
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      01-20-2018, 10:14 PM   #20
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Either one will be fulfill your criteria. You can argue back and forth about the pros and cons all day but at the end of the day the right answer 99% of the time is "get the one with the lowest miles, most service records, and the color/options you want" imo
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      01-20-2018, 10:18 PM   #21
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N55 w/ Dinan tune for $800 you get 355 hp & 400 tq. Then just upgrade the charge pipe and intercooler.

Unless you really think an extra +12% bump in hp (355 vs 400) is really worth it.. personally I'm not sure I see the need for spending all that much more on FBO over the Dinan tune but to each his own.
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      01-21-2018, 05:33 AM   #22
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Quote:
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N55 w/ Dinan tune for $800 you get 355 hp & 400 tq. Then just upgrade the charge pipe and intercooler.

Unless you really think an extra +12% bump in hp (355 vs 400) is really worth it.. personally I'm not sure I see the need for spending all that much more on FBO over the Dinan tune but to each his own.
I don’t want to derail this thread, but what are the pros and cons of the Dinan tune compared to other tunes like the MHD?
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