Are you thinking about buying a BMW? They are great cars, but don’t forget to research those with the BMW N54 engine. The engine is the heart and soul of any vehicle. So, let’s see if the N54 might be the right one for you.
What are the BMW N54 engine specs?
The N54 is a 3.0L twin-turbocharged straight-six engine. It has 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft. This engine has an aluminum block, aluminum head, and weighs 145 pounds. All have a bore of 84.0, an 89.6 mm stroke, a 10.2:1 compression ratio, and a redline of 7,000 RPMs.
There is more information about the N54 engine. But first, we want to give you a little BMW N54 engine history. Then we will list all the vehicles that have an N54 engine. After that, we will round out this article with the most commonly asked questions about the N54.
Looking Back at the BMW N54 Engine
The N54 is a BMW twin-turbocharged engine. It is a straight-six petrol engine that was manufactured between 2006 and 2016. The N54 was the first turbocharged petrol engine that BMW ever mass-produced.
BMW also briefly rolled out a limited-production of a turbocharged petrol engine called the M106, but it was discontinued in 1986. The N54 made its entrance at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show in the BMW 335i model of the E90-91-92, and E 93 3Series vehicles.
BMW then began to phase out the N54 in 2009 as it introduced its new BMW N55 engine. There were still some N54s lingering in one model though. The N54 was still powering the E89 Z4 roadster and that model was produced through 2016.
Interestingly, the N54 received multiple awards over the years. It won five straight awards for the International Engine of the year and three straight awards for Ward’s 10 Best Engines. Unfortunately, there is no BMW M model of the N54, but a high-output model of the N54 was used in the 1 Series M Coupe.
The turbocharged engines are the main difference between the BMW N54 straight-sixes and BMW’s previous straight-six engines. This is because the N54 contains two small low-pressure turbochargers that were designed to minimize any turbo lag.
Which Models Have a BMW N54 Engine?
The N54 engines, which were rolled out in 2006, were included in a variety of cars between 2006 and 2016.
Here is the lineup:
- 2006-2010 – the E90, E91, E92, E93 engines were in the 335i model
- 2007-2010 – the E60 and E61 were in the 535i
- 2007-2010 – the E82 and E88 were in the 135i
- 2008-2010 – the E71 was in the X6 xDrive35i
- 2009-2016 – the E89 was in the Z4 sDrive35i
People Also Ask
Is the N54 a Reliable Engine?
The N54 engine had some problems in its first few years of production. The earlier N54 had fuel injection and high-pressure fuel pump issues. It also had a waste-gate that rattled. But BMW corrected those issues with recalls and extended warranties. However, the waste-gate rattle issue still exists.
Today, both the N54 and N55 are relatively reliable engines.
How Much Horsepower can the N54 Engine Handle?
The stock N54 internal parts should not go above 600 whp and 600 wtq. If you want to go above that, at the very least, consider adding upgraded pistons, rods, and better bearings. Then it should be able to handle about 850 whp.
How Many Miles Will an N54 Engine Go?
Just like any vehicle, you can keep repairing it and replacing parts for as long as you want to keep it going. But if you perform routine maintenance and don’t drive it hard, that engine could easily achieve 200,000 miles or more.
Is it Possible to Make My N54 Engine Faster?
Yes. You can boost your N54 by adding an intercooler and by keeping your intake air temperature as low as possible. The cooler the air that enters the engine is, the more power it will make.
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