Trying to determine if I have hybrid turbos..

[..]

Hello, all.

I am trying to determine if the turbos that came equipped with my car are hybrids. Is there any physical differences I should look out for in comparison to oem turbos? Also, I have a very bad wastegate rattle so would that necessarily mean by default that I do not have hybrids?

Thanks,
Durim

[Dackelone]

I really don't know what you mean by: "hybrid turbos" ???


Your turbo(s) are covered for 80K miles or 8 years. IF your car is over that, it is quite possible BMW would still cover most of that job. You might want to ask your local dealer.

[darkrom]

Are you asking if you have RB's or something and didn't know it?

I'd say thats impossible unless for some foolish reason you don't have a JB4 yet. You'd know if you were making mega power wouldn't you?

I am curious how a set of RBs would perform on a bone stock tune, my guess is probably not very well at all.


What makes you think you have anything but the stock anyway? Turbos are expensive, I doubt anyone would just trade it in without swapping with stock turbos first. Its like throwing away a few grand.

[..]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I really don't know what you mean by: "hybrid turbos" ???


Your turbo(s) are covered for 80K miles or 8 years. IF your car is over that, it is quite possible BMW would still cover most of that job. You might want to ask your local dealer.

"Hybrid" turbos, meaning RB and/or Vargas where the oem turbos have upgraded internals i.e compressor wheel, housing, waste gate, etc.

[..]

Originally Posted by darkrom

Are you asking if you have RB's or something and didn't know it?

I'd say thats impossible unless for some foolish reason you don't have a JB4 yet. You'd know if you were making mega power wouldn't you?

I am curious how a set of RBs would perform on a bone stock tune, my guess is probably not very well at all.


What makes you think you have anything but the stock anyway? Turbos are expensive, I doubt anyone would just trade it in without swapping with stock turbos first. Its like throwing away a few grand.

Yes, precisely.

I am under the impression I purchased a preowned 135i equipped upgraded hybrid turbos.

Current Mods:
JB4 G5 ISO Map 7
E85 Backend Flash
E60
BMS 3" kittyless down pipes
Berk Race Axle Back
BMS DCIs
ER Charge pipe w/ Tial Q BOV
VRSF 7" FMIC w/ upper charge pipe
Walbro 255 lpfp

The reason why I believe this to be so is because I and others believe my car to be excessively fast.

I have comparison videos to other cars but I do not believe them to be appropriate for this forum.

My question is, does having a waste gate rattle necessarily mean I have oem turbos?

[miggs]

I've followed a few of your videos but i don't think you have raced another 135 with similar mods try that see how that goes then try to race a upgraded turbo N54. Best idea I can come up with without dropping the subframe to get into the turbos.

[..]

Originally Posted by miggs

I've followed a few of your videos but i don't think you have raced another 135 with similar mods try that see how that goes then try to race a upgraded turbo N54. Best idea I can come up with without dropping the subframe to get into the turbos.

I would love to, unfortunately this season is too cold for that.

BMW has offered to change my turbos under warranty however, my main concern is that I would potentially swapping out upgraded turbos for oem.

[miggs]

you can also try to dyno the car and see if your numbers match anyone same mods or bigger turbo although weather has been fairly warm by us especially xmas day and racing would be more fun best bet is prob a dyno

[Elsabor67]

You'll have to drop the downpipes and see the exhaust side of the turbos. If I remember correctly and seeing a side by side comparison pic of both stock and RBs I found on E90post, the hot side impeller is larger (noticeably) than stock.

I honestly don't think you will be able to tell just from the outside unless you can tell the difference on the thrust arm for the waste gate which on some previous RBs are upgraded.

[Grinchxvx]

I stumbled upon your videos the other night. I bet if your waste gates are
Rattling you have stock turbos. Your car seems to be setup pretty well and that would explain why you're beating such fast cars. I bet your car is putting down 450whp and 500ft which is good for a 3300 pound car.

[Solo_M_Tech]

The compressor and turbine housings are the same on the RB upgrade. If they are RB, there will be an ID plate on the front of the compressor housing with a serial number and date of assembly. That's how they track there turbo's for warranty purposes.

[loesch]

Just take a log and post it. People can tell by the log if it has aftermarket turbo's.

[..]

Originally Posted by HooningB2G

The compressor and turbine housings are the same on the RB upgrade. If they are RB, there will be an ID plate on the front of the compressor housing with a serial number and date of assembly. That's how they track there turbo's for warranty purposes.

I asked RBs about this and they stated that it is not true.

Originally Posted by loesch

Just take a log and post it. People can tell by the log if it has aftermarket turbo's.

How so? Remember, RBs turbos are not considered aftermarket.

[Freon]

Originally Posted by DurimOne54

Remember, RBs turbos are not considered aftermarket.

Uh, what?? By whom?

RB is not an OE supplier so it is "aftermarket." BMW doesn't sell the turbos in the condition and with the internal parts that RB does, so again they are "aftermarket." External appearance has nothing to do with it.

You wouldn't call an LS3 swap in a 135i "not aftermarket" just because you slapped the N54's plastic engine cover on top of it.

[..]

Originally Posted by Freon

Uh, what?? By whom?

RB is not an OE supplier so it is "aftermarket." BMW doesn't sell the turbos in the condition and with the internal parts that RB does, so again they are "aftermarket." External appearance has nothing to do with it.

You wouldn't call an LS3 swap in a 135i "not aftermarket" just because you slapped the N54's plastic engine cover on top of it.

I guess you're right. I always went by what they were called (hybrids) since the external is oem. I wouldn't consider them to be completely aftermarket.

Don't RBs run same boost as oem turbos?

[Freon]

Originally Posted by DurimOne54

Don't RBs run same boost as oem turbos?

The tune sets the target boost level, so it depends on if you tune or load a map that utilizes the capabilities of the new turbos.

They have a larger compressor, and some models have a larger or clipped turbine. That should make higher boost levels usable, though you may also get a nominal increase in power at the same boost level due to higher efficiency.

[Zombie1]

Durim post a log, also if you have RBs/VTT hybrids your car should pull hard all the way to redline 7k. The stock turbos die off quicky after 6K.

[135Pats]

Just pull the downpipes and look at the turbine housing, Rob ports the crap out of it.

Or post a log and it'll be fairly obvious if your car is tuned for hyrbid twins.

[darkrom]

Man if I thought I had free RB's I'd pay someone to get their ass in there and look LOL.

I'd kill for those turbos.

[..]

Just dropped off my car today for the Wastegate rattle to get new turbos.

Service manager is a friend of mine. He will be removing the turbos and comparing them to the new ones. Hopefully he can manage to get me a picture of them side by side.

[totti84]

You may want to start praying that they are OEM, otherwise the dealer won't cover you and you will be hit with a few grand bill!

[..]

Originally Posted by totti84

You may want to start praying that they are OEM, otherwise the dealer won't cover you and you will be hit with a few grand bill!

Like I said, my good friend is the service manager at BMW. Hence why I even brought my car there....