|
|
|
07-03-2018, 06:24 AM | #1 |
Captain
595
Rep 704
Posts |
These N52 NA engines are just....tanks.
I was very...concerned with numerous issues with regards to these N52 engines.
I managed to completed so over 20 days of track driving, training, drift days etc within 3 months. Everytime i start that engine, it just goes. Not in terms of power, but in terms of not giving up. Redlining 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears on the Nordschleife in 35-40c+ temps and that engine will never refuse to go all the way. Granted, everything in terms of maintenance has been done, which also is the key to having reliability with any car (generally speaking). Watching how all the turbocharged stock and tuned cars fly by at much higher speeds, but only 3-5 laps in and they are on a cooldown lap or got limp mode. I just stayed out there, lap after lap. My last event was for my national A license, was done at mending airfield. 43c+ temp that day, two 911.1 turbos, F80 M3 and C63 AMG (and other turbocharged cars) went to pit after 4 laps, i managed to get 9+ laps before the heat started to really bombard me. There was 1 heavily modified 964 there also ran hot and went into the pits. I just really wish there was a cost effective way to get 300hp from that engine, and probably get some wider tires without having to roll the fenders (need more grip, 225/40s all round can only give so much) and wish the E82 was a lot lighter, i mean nearly 1.5 tons in that "small car" is a lot, i can feel it, oh yeah and the seats are rubbish on track XD my legs are always leaning on the door panel or center console ^^ No funny noises, no smoke, no warnings even oil consumption is none. NA engines just have that advantage of going on and on, but those turbos are just way too damn fast Ferodo DS Performance street legal pads + 330i front discs + SRF react fluid = stops on a dime. I had to re-learn braking points, meaning at 70-80% brake pressure the car just stops. Making me wanting to break later and harder corner, but i also wanted to drive 600+ kms back home in one piece so i did not really push it (braking wise) that much. 120c oil temp at 43c day redlining 3rd gear all day on the airfield, damn i am impressed. One more thing, that short wheel base is a beauty on the GP track or Mending Airfield, it is a handful on Nordschleife, even with 230-ish at the wheels that rear end does not like high speed bumpy corners sadly. |
07-03-2018, 08:08 AM | #2 |
Bergspyder
1556
Rep 1,242
Posts |
Loved the N52 in my old 128i and X5 (RIP both due to accidents) and love the N52 in my 528i F10.
Still looking for my next N52. Maybe a Z4? Probably another 128i.
__________________
|
Appreciate
2
Zombie_Head595.00 carscatscoffee15257.00 |
07-03-2018, 09:45 AM | #3 |
Lieutenant
288
Rep 408
Posts |
Yep our cars are wonderful and simple. A bit more power and tire while shedding 200lbs would be the cats meow. The cars were never really meant to be racers but do everything well besides push. The motor does well for itself but needs that extra 15%
|
Appreciate
1
Zombie_Head595.00 |
07-04-2018, 03:31 AM | #4 |
Sideways and Smiling
3035
Rep 2,860
Posts
Drives: In Exuberance
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Rosamond, CA USA
|
I couldn't say it better myself. My car has a few miles (175k) and it doesn't miss a beat on track, and just keeps singing that BMW song (much quieter than the other cars out there). I don't think it needs more power, as it'll easily spin the inside wheel, just an LSD and minor suspension work and you've got yourself a proper sports car. Dropping weight and getting more tire underneath it will just sweeten the deal for me. In due time...
__________________
2012 BMW 328i 6-Speed Wagon | Deep Sea Blue with Grey Dakota Leather | Manual Swap, 330i Intake + Tune, 3.15 Helical LSD, Öhlins R&T
(SOLD) 2009 BMW 128i 6-Speed Coupé | Monaco Blue with Black Sensatec | chris_flies' 128i thread |
Appreciate
2
Zombie_Head595.00 chris82835.50 |
07-05-2018, 01:11 PM | #5 |
Private First Class
52
Rep 160
Posts |
The N52 is a great engine! If you need more tyre the Apex 1er specific rims will allow you to run 265 rears and 245 fronts without modification.
|
Appreciate
1
Zombie_Head595.00 |
07-05-2018, 01:33 PM | #6 | |
Captain
595
Rep 704
Posts |
Quote:
I am also not too happy with the software tune, the shop is treating me...like a "normal" person, not a customer and is denying any "issues". It runs great, but the dyno i went to showed several dips and inconsistencies in the graph, need to test on another dyno to verify. For now she stays, but MAYBE in winter, i might change to either E46 M3 or E92 N54 335i, big MAYBE we shall see. Thank you for the tip on wheels. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-05-2018, 02:31 PM | #7 | ||
Sideways and Smiling
3035
Rep 2,860
Posts
Drives: In Exuberance
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Rosamond, CA USA
|
Quote:
__________________
2012 BMW 328i 6-Speed Wagon | Deep Sea Blue with Grey Dakota Leather | Manual Swap, 330i Intake + Tune, 3.15 Helical LSD, Öhlins R&T
(SOLD) 2009 BMW 128i 6-Speed Coupé | Monaco Blue with Black Sensatec | chris_flies' 128i thread |
||
Appreciate
1
Zombie_Head595.00 |
07-05-2018, 02:43 PM | #8 | |
Captain
595
Rep 704
Posts |
Quote:
330i Front discs/DS Performance Pads (all rounds) KW V3 Coil Overs Engine Software What sway bars do you recommend? would be great if they are BMW OE ones, so no need for TÜV locally. Heard 330i sway bars are 24mm front and 15mm rear and bolt on? |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-05-2018, 03:55 PM | #9 | ||
Sideways and Smiling
3035
Rep 2,860
Posts
Drives: In Exuberance
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Rosamond, CA USA
|
Quote:
I'd go with an E93 M3 front sway bar, it's OEM, pretty easy to find, and are (in the US) reasonably priced. Personally, I went with an Eibach 28mm front, but I found a good price and 'vert M3's aren't common in my area. Front sway bars are also extremely easy to install. For the rear, I don't know that I'd recommend anything stiffer than stock (at least, not significantly so) until you've got an LSD to keep that inside tire from roasting. My car didn't have a rear bar at all, so I put the 15mm bar from ECS back there, and it made it much better. I'd also look into M3 front control arms. They improve steering feel a good bit, and make the front end feel more cohesive. Plus, you gain some negative camber, and grip. Camber plates would take it to the next level, I can vouch for Dinan (they're more streetable than racing-style plates). Oh, subframe bushings are a must. I have Whiteline inserts, but I'm starting to feel the limits of those. Since you can track your car so often (lucky duck), solid bushings would be a solid option ()... There's a whole bunch more, but if you're contemplating selling the car, it probably isn't worth pursuing much more until you're sure...
__________________
2012 BMW 328i 6-Speed Wagon | Deep Sea Blue with Grey Dakota Leather | Manual Swap, 330i Intake + Tune, 3.15 Helical LSD, Öhlins R&T
(SOLD) 2009 BMW 128i 6-Speed Coupé | Monaco Blue with Black Sensatec | chris_flies' 128i thread |
||
Appreciate
1
Zombie_Head595.00 |
07-05-2018, 04:04 PM | #10 | |
Captain
595
Rep 704
Posts |
Quote:
Eibach is offering a kit for €300 including bushings 28mm front and 15mm rears. Not sure, want to dyno it again locally this time (or near by) and see what exactly is the engine doing, MAYBE change the tune, unsure. I got so much in my head, so everything is just in my head and no action will be taken till winter. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-25-2018, 04:02 PM | #11 |
Second Lieutenant
208
Rep 282
Posts |
Zombie Head- Have you changed out the rear subframe bushings with M3 or urethane units? It's a royal pain to do, but worth it in the end. It will make a big difference in high speed sweeping turns, especially if there are bumps or waviness in the surface. My 128i really feels planted after installing M3 RSFB's.
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-25-2018, 04:29 PM | #12 |
Lieutenant Colonel
919
Rep 1,848
Posts |
The engine's a tank because it's ridiculously detuned from what a NA 4 stroke of that displacement and cylinder surface area to volume ratio can produce. A CRF250R makes 40 hp out of .25l on pump gas. It's true, the surface area to volume on that motor is better but you can extrapolate. The biggest problem is lack of dry sump, but that may not show up for a long time without slicks.
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-25-2018, 05:25 PM | #13 | |
Captain
595
Rep 704
Posts |
Quote:
Im taking a break from any mods, im focusing elsewhere in my life but if i do this it will be a diff and rear sway bar as well, so much needs to come off its silly. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-25-2018, 05:25 PM | #14 | |
Captain
595
Rep 704
Posts |
Quote:
Really if i dump more money, it would probably be on an E46 M3, something that can seriously be quick. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-25-2018, 06:00 PM | #15 |
Captain
649
Rep 695
Posts |
If you do 2-piece bushings like Whiteline, almost nothing comes off. I've read that even the M3 bushings can be done without removing the subframe from the car. You could do 2-piece bushings in a couple of hours if you have the right tool. I did this last weekend and made a thread about the tool that I built, it's actually really easy.
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-25-2018, 06:18 PM | #16 | |
Captain
649
Rep 695
Posts |
Quote:
I'm not claiming our engines are peak performers at about 77hp/liter, but it would make more sense to compare against other 6-cylinder engines in the 3 liter range that have similar redlines. A 370 is in the ballpark at 89hp/liter for example. Clearly higher than our engines but not 160hp/liter. Even an S2000 is only at 120hp/liter and that's considered an extremely high output engine, but again that engine revs to 9k which explains a lot of that. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-25-2018, 06:30 PM | #17 | |
Lieutenant Colonel
919
Rep 1,848
Posts |
Quote:
So you've got: +5% efficiency 14:1 vs 10.7:1 +10% E85 boost We'll say a N52 makes 270bhp stock, being generous. 270 * 14/10.7 = 353 + 15% = 405 bhp So even if you don't run ethanol, and just use whatever octane gasoline is necessary to support 14:1 compression, you can make an absolute shitload of power. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-25-2018, 08:00 PM | #18 | |
Private First Class
96
Rep 143
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-25-2018, 08:20 PM | #19 | |
Lieutenant Colonel
919
Rep 1,848
Posts |
Quote:
Also, how anyone can enter a discussion on engines but not know about E85 is beyond me. Hint...it's not 85 octane, it's mostly ethanol and tunes like leaded race gas. So yeah, I've shown how you can get a shitload more power without touching the rev limit. You disagree? |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-25-2018, 09:50 PM | #20 | |
!
742
Rep 3,267
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
____________________________ |
|
07-25-2018, 11:45 PM | #21 | |
Captain
649
Rep 695
Posts |
Quote:
Overall we are getting off topic. Your point was that this is not a high output 3L engine and hence you can beat the shit out of it all day and you won't hurt it, which is a very valid point. If it came with 405hp or whatever you calculated, you likely could not beat the shit out of it all day like we can. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-26-2018, 03:29 AM | #22 |
Lieutenant Colonel
919
Rep 1,848
Posts |
|
Appreciate
1
chris_flies3035.00 |
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|