BMW N54B30 engine

Bi-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine type N54 with direct injection is the brainchild of Alpina brand specialists. This unit was presented to the general public in 2006 and was intended for cars and crossovers of the German manufacturer BMW. “Stuffing” of the engine is a cylinder block with cast iron liners, on top of it is a modified cylinder head with a system of changing the gas distribution phases on the intake and exhaust shafts Bi-VANOS and the function of direct fuel supply.

The intake valves have a diameter of 31.44 mm, the exhaust valves are slightly smaller – 28 mm. The opening phase of the camshaft valves at any of the timing phases is 245/261 degrees, and the lift height is 9.7 mm. In this case, the developers did not use the Valvetronic system, in connection with which the valves rise to a fixed height, the change of this indicator under different conditions does not occur.

Supercharging is provided by two Mitsubishi model TD03-10TK3 turbochargers operating in parallel. One compressor is fixed behind half of the cylinders in the block. In the standard version of the engine, the supercharging pressure is 0.55 bar. The engine is controlled by a Siemens MSD 80/81 processor.

The N54B30 power unit is oriented for Bavarian cars with the 35i index, as well as 40i (for the 7-series). The cars produced under the Alpina brand were also equipped with engine modifications with increased to 360 hp or 400 hp power.

The motor was actively used until 2009, after which it gradually began to give way to a representative of a new generation of turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engines – N55B30.

N54B30 engine specifications

Disadvantages

The greatest inconvenience to owners of cars with this power unit is caused by the fuel injector. It is extremely sensitive to fuel with unsuitable octane number and in most cases fails after about 50,000 kilometers of mileage. It is quite easy to recognize the presence of malfunctions, as they immediately turn into a decrease in power. As a rule, it makes no sense to repair the fuel pump, it is more reasonable to simply buy a new one and replace it, especially since it is relatively inexpensive.

The high-pressure injectors usually have to be replaced after 100000 kilometers of mileage, and the turbine and pump live about the same amount of time. The service life of plugs is about 20,000 kilometers. Of course, much depends on operating conditions and driving style.

In general, the BMW N54 engine is a fairly reliable unit, which has a long service life and does not cause significant problems to the motorist. In addition, it is excellent for tuning, which makes it especially attractive for various workshops, ateliers and just enthusiasts who like to experiment with automotive equipment.

Modifications

This model was produced in several different modifications:

1. NB54B30O0 is the main variant of the motor, produced from 2006 to 2010. Its power is equal to 306 hp at 5800 rpm, and the ultimate torque is 400 Nm, achieved at shaft speeds from 1400 to 5000 rpm. It was used in cars with the 35i index.
2. The NB54B30 was a variant of the engine produced from 2008 to 2012 and built for the BMW models 740i and 335si. It produced 326 hp at 5800 rpm, and the top torque of 450 Nm was reached at 1500-4500 rpm. It differed structurally from the original model in fan and radiator design, and used a different version of the firmware for the electronic control unit.
3. N54B30T0 – 340 hp modification of the power unit, production of which was launched in 2010. The torque limit is 450 Nm (or 500 Nm in the Overboost version. This motor has an improved cooling system, as well as a different program of the control unit. It is oriented on such models of the Bavarian car brand as 1M and Z4 E89 sDrive35is.

Chip tuning

The developers of the N54 engine have included a lot of possibilities for modifications and tuning. At the same time, it is possible to achieve good results without significant financial expenses. For example, already on Stage 1 it is possible to get about 350 hp only through the use of a standard JB4 chip. To bring the power up to 400-420 hp on Stage 2 can be achieved by tuning the cooling system (replacing the fan and installing an additional radiator), installing a larger intercooler, oil cooler and air filter. It is also necessary to get rid of the catalytic converter. Thanks to a set of such fairly simple measures, you can achieve a golden mean, in which the resulting power fully justifies the invested funds. In addition, with these modifications, there is no significant reduction in engine life.

Those who want even more drive will need to purchase a methanol whale that increases power to 450 hp. This will allow the BMW 135i/335i to drive the standard quarter mile in 11.3 seconds, which is about 2 seconds faster than the stock version of the motor can provide.

This engine is installed on the following models:

BMW 1-Series (E88)

BMW 1-Series (E82)

BMW 3-Series (E90)

BMW 5-Series (E60)

BMW Z4 (E89)