N57 engine - everything you need to know

The N57 engine belongs to a family of diesel engines equipped with a turbocharger and common rail system. Production began in 2008 and ended in 2015. We present the most important information about him.

N57 engine - technical data

The diesel engine uses a DOHC valve control system. The six-cylinder power unit has 6 cylinders with 4 pistons in each. Engine cylinder bore 90 mm, piston stroke 84 mm at 16.5 compression. The exact engine displacement is 2993 cc. 

The engine consumed 6,4 liters of fuel per 100 km in the city, 5,4 liters per 100 km in the combined cycle and 4,9 liters per 100 km on the highway. The unit required 5W-30 or 5W-40 oil to function properly. 

Motor versions from BMW

Since the beginning of the production of BMW engines, six types of power units have been created. All of them had a bore and stroke of 84 x 90 mm, a displacement of 2993 cc and a compression ratio of 3:16,5. The following varieties belonged to the N1 family:

• N57D30UL with 150 kW (204 hp) at 3750 rpm. and 430 Nm at 1750-2500 rpm. The second version has an output of 155 kW (211 hp) at 4000 rpm. and 450 Nm at 1750-2500 rpm;
• N57D30OL 180 kW (245 hp) at 4000 rpm. and 520 Nm at 1750-3000 rpm. or 540 Nm at 1750-3000 rpm;
• N57D30OL 190 kW (258 hp) at 4000 rpm. and 560 Nm at 2000-2750 rpm;
• N57D30TOP220 kW (299 hp) at 4400 rpm. or 225 kW (306 hp) at 4400 rpm. and 600 Nm at 1500-2500 rpm;
• N57D30TOP(TÜ) 230 kW (313 hp) at 4400 rpm. and 630 Nm at 1500-2500 rpm;
• N57D30S1 280 kW (381 hp) at 4400 rpm. 740 Nm at 2000-3000 rpm.

Sports version N57D30S1

There was also a sporty three-supercharger variant, where the first had a variable turbine geometry and functioned very well at low engine speeds, the second at medium speeds, increasing torque, and the third generated short peaks of power and torque at the highest. load - at the level of 740 Nm and 280 kW (381 hp).

Drive design

The N57 is a 30° supercharged, water-cooled inline engine. It uses two overhead camshafts - a diesel engine. The engine block is made of lightweight and durable aluminium. The crankshaft main bearing shells are made of cermet alloy.

It is also worth describing the design of the engine cylinder head. It is divided into two parts, where the exhaust and intake channels, as well as valves, are located at the bottom. The top has a base plate that the camshafts run on. The head is also equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation channel. A characteristic feature of the N57 is that the cylinders have dry liners thermally bonded to the cylinder block.

Camshafts, fuel and turbocharger

An important element of the operation of the engine is the exhaust camshaft, which is driven by a single element of the intake valves. The listed parts are responsible for controlling the intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders. In turn, for the correct operation of the intake camshaft, the drive chain on the flywheel side, tensioned by hydraulic chain pullers, is responsible.

In the N57 engine, fuel is injected at a pressure of 1800 to 2000 bar directly into the cylinders via the Bosch Common Rail system. Separate variants of the power unit may have different exhaust gas turbochargers - variable geometry or combined with an intercooler, one or two.

Operation of the drive unit - problems encountered

During the operation of the motorcycle, malfunctions associated with vortex shock absorbers could occur. As a result of a malfunction, the engine starts to run unevenly, as well as signal system errors. 

Another problem is the generation of a lot of noise. Unwanted sounds are the result of a broken crankshaft silencer. The problem appears at a run of about 100 XNUMX. km and the timing chain needs to be replaced.

You should also pay attention to using the correct type of oil. Thanks to this, the rest of the system, such as the turbine, should run for at least 200 hours without problems. kilometers.

N57 engine suitable for tuning

One of the most common ways to increase engine power is to upgrade the turbocharger. By adding a larger version or a hybrid version to the engine, the intake air delivery parameters can be significantly improved. However, this will be associated with higher levels of fuel combustion. 

N57 users also decide to tune the ECU. Reassigning units is relatively inexpensive and improves performance. Another solution from this category is the replacement of not only the ECU, but also the tuning boxes. Tuning can also apply to the flywheel. A component with less mass will improve the performance of the power unit by increasing the engine speed.

Other methods to increase engine potential include upgrading the fuel pump, using high flow injectors, installing a polished cylinder head, intake kit or sports catalytic converter, exhaust and road cam.