[Motorsport_235i]

Hi,
i know there is a million subject about this
but i wanna know why is the N55 more boring to drive then the N54?
I heard that N55 feels like a electric car

[mike@x-ph.com]

The driving experience everyone talks about is not about the engine but the chassis

When people compare N54 and N55 they tend to like the N54 more because it is mod friendly

[Benandluna]

Coming from someone who had a 135i jb tuned with the twin turbos to a 235i with a dinan tune. I have to confess that the 2 series felt better. everything about it.

[Maynard]

"why is the N55 more boring to drive then the N54?"
No, the real question is "why do people SAY the N55 more boring to drive then the N54?" - probably because they own a N54 (or more likely, got the pages of SCC all sticky reading the articles about them). And given the relative availability, this is like wondering if that sports illustrated cover girl is really hotter than your girlfriend (OK, to be fair to the 235 - it is like wondering this if you are Tom Brady).

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by Motorsport_235i

........................................ i wanna know why is the N55 more boring to drive then the N54?
.....................

The excitement of a likely N54 HPFP failure?

[wjjkoevoets]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

The excitement of a likely N54 HPFP failure?

Or the sound of the wastegate getting sucked into the engine?

[xantdieselx]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

The excitement of a likely N54 HPFP failure?

This. But seriously, the N54 as stout as it is/was was never categorized as an exciting engine. In fact the broad torque curve and lack of top end (above 5500) was what drew the most criticism. This (along with the added complexity and lack of HPFP reliability) is what lead to the development of the single turbo setup in the N55.

[2msport]

"They don't make them like they used to" -Said by everyone always these days

[DF]

Having owned both. The N54 is much rougher around the edges. Its not smooth like the N55 is. The issues are endless with it. I cannot tell you how much I spent on it after 75K miles. Water pump, fuel pump, turbos, alternator, and on and on.

[Motorsport_235i]

I got a 135i 2008 and 2016 M235i
yeah i had a water pump problem on mine cost 2K
now i have a sensor for the steering issue thats 1K
broken back light about 300$
like there is a lot of issues with that N54
i drove the N55 and the thing i dont like is that u dont feel the speed on it at all.
N54 it rough and feel like a lot!!

[Merc for hire]

Originally Posted by Motorsport_235i

I got a 135i 2008 and 2016 M235i
yeah i had a water pump problem on mine cost 2K
now i have a sensor for the steering issue thats 1K
broken back light about 300$
like there is a lot of issues with that N54
i drove the N55 and the thing i dont like is that u dont feel the speed on it at all.
N54 it rough and feel like a lot!!

Sorry that you had to go through all these problems but these are not related to the N54 engine in particular. Just a regular problems of a old BMW.

[Maynard]

I think what you are noticing is the classic disconnect between the 'butt dyno' and real performance. Often the things that feel fast aren't. I was just reading that the original Nissan GTR had 'added roughness' to give this same experience (i.e. leaving out sound insulation, keeping motor bushings solid). Even more noticeable in handling, where cutting a good corner can feel tame compared to one of those 'fast and furious' slides. All the more reason to stop playing the numbers game for most HP or lowest et, and find something that turns you on to drive. Personally, I just love the smooth controlled feeling, and chose my 228 over a Miata or 370z to get away from that feel of 'racer on the street' - sounds like you would go the other direction.

[123Britt]

My N54 was a MT were my N55 is AT.
.
.
I just loved the N54 but I do think that the 8-speed transmission is the clear winner here. Shifting so fast the ZF really makes the car feel so much faster.
.
So I do think the N54 is more tuner friendly but for stock -- I prefer my N55 ZF setup.
.
Not to mention the rush to market design failures of the N54 (early 07' Model).
.
.
N54<N55<B58*

* If the cooling management design proves reliable.

[doccyber]

The same question can be said about the B58...

[STR8-6IX]

N54 more tuner friendly
N55 more reliable.

you pick what you need more.

people say the N55 has less turbo lag, and that the n54 feels like a "bigger" engine due to the twin turbos, but i think this is subjective to how the engine was broken in during the early stages of its life. eg. a well sealed turbo engine burning no oil will have less lag and feel more responsive.

[Motorsport_235i]

Tnx for the info guys
I guess i need a car that feels more the speed then a m235i

[Maynard]

Check out the 370z, or if you want to go upmarket a bit, there's the pony car/ corvette club. Lots of variations. Or a Miata, if you really want the pure driving feel (I swear they feel like you are going twice as fast as the speedo).

[Motorsport_235i]

Im sold on bmw i will not buy anything else !!!

[rich8566]

Originally Posted by Motorsport_235i

Hi,
i know there is a million subject about this
but i wanna know why is the N55 more boring to drive then the N54?
I heard that N55 feels like a electric car

In my view, the N55 is a bit more refined than the N54. I've had three BMWs with the N54 and two with the N55. The N55 seems to be a bit smoother than the N55. The N54 feels like it has more mid range torque.

For example, with a manual tranny, punching the N54 at 70 mph in 6th gear gives you a healthy shove in the back. The N55, less so. However, with that said, I found zero performance difference on the track. I pulled nearly the exact same track lap times with both engines.

In my latest vehicle ('14 235i) I can assure you that there is nothing boring about the N55 or the car. Both are fabulous.

[B_Rice]

The words "twin turbo" are definitely more exciting than someone asking if twin scroll turbo means twin turbo and going on a long winded explanation of about how twin scroll turbos work.

[Dylan86]

Just read that N55 manual.. Lots of cool tech info, from N54 -> N55 which illustrates a lot of the improvements over the previous offerings.

I had no idea that the N55 was the first Turbo engine that BMW combined with Variable Valve Timing. Probably one of the reasons the N54 didn't make much jam up top.

[rich8566]

Originally Posted by B_Rice

The words "twin turbo" are definitely more exciting than someone asking if twin scroll turbo means twin turbo and going on a long winded explanation of about how twin scroll turbos work.

Nobody outside of this community knows what any of this means.