N54 engine - what you should know about the unit from BMW?
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BMW created the N54 engine with two small turbochargers, a complete novelty in the manufacturer's offering. The motor received good reviews, but many problems arose during operation. Why? You will find the most important information about the N54 in our article!
N54 engine characteristics
The biggest innovation is that the design includes two small low-pressure turbochargers to minimize turbo lag.
- The boost pressure reaches 0,55 bar, and an air-to-air intercooler is also involved in the operation of the unit. This technology is known as TwinPower Turbo.
- The designers also decided on the open cover of the power unit, as well as the installation of an electric water pump.
- The engine block is made of aluminium.
- BMW also introduced the Valvetronic system with variable valve lift.
The direct fuel injection system used in the N54 - High Precision Injection - includes piezo injectors.
Similarity to previous versions of units
In the case of the N54 engine, there are many similarities with the N53 variant. This is due to the parallel production process. We are talking about the use of direct fuel injection, as well as a dual VANOS system with variable valve timing. Thanks to these design solutions, the N54 produced an additional 45 hp. and 108 Nm compared to the N52 version.
BMW N54 engine - technical data
The turbocharged engine was made in a simple configuration with a DOHC variable valve timing system with four valves per cylinder. Stroke 89,6 mm, cylinder bore 84 mm. The compression ratio is 10.2, and the total volume is 2979 cc.
The gasoline engine is equipped with a Siemens MSD80 electronic control module, Mitsubishi TD03-10TK3 biturbo. The recommended oil is 5W-30 and the tank capacity is 6.5 liters.
Three variants of the N54B30 block
Three engine options are available N54B30 with 306 hp, 326 hp. and 340 hp at 5 rpm. in the first two cases and 800 rpm. in the third, while the torque is 5 Nm, 900 Nm and 400 Nm respectively. Individual versions were installed on such car models as:
- N54B30 306 km with: E60 535i (2007-2010), E90, E91, E92, E93, 335i (2007-2010), E82, E88 135i (2007-2010), X6 xDrive35i (2008-2010), Z4 sDrive35i (2009) ) -2016);
- N54B30 326 HP in: F01 740i (2008-2012);
- N54B30 340 km with: E82 1 Series M Coupe i E89 Z4 sDrive35is.
N54 engine operation - the most common problems
The unit is considered to be quite emergency. The most common N54 engine failures are related to the cooling system, fuel system, turbocharger, and oil leaks. These are shortcomings that often appear, so you should take a closer look at them.
Refrigeration system failures and uncontrolled oil leaks
Problems associated with the cooling system arise at a mileage of about 60 km. km to 100 thousand km. Faults relate to the expansion tank and coolant lines. They are prone to cracking, which leads to frequent leaks. There are also failures of the electric cooling fan.
The cause may be a damaged valve cover gasket, filter housing or oil pan. The most problematic are older models of engines with high mileage. In this case, it is recommended to replace the entire filter housing and oil cap - a much more effective solution than replacing old seals with new ones.
Problems with the fuel system and turbocharger
They appear most often in units before the modernization of the high-pressure fuel pump - high-pressure fuel pump, this unit was distinguished by a high failure rate. In new versions, it breaks less often. The LPFP EKP module, which consumes a lot of electricity, is also expensive to operate.
In the case of a turbine, the characteristic rattling is a big problem, which makes more noise. The element is damaged naturally after about 150 km. km. The blower pipe is also defective and prone to cracking - this leads to leaks.
As you can see, the N54 engine is a unit that can be considered quite problematic. You have to decide for yourself whether it is worth looking for such a motor for your car.
