So far the valves have been cleaned, DME & transmission software has been updated and most recently the 8 speed auto transmission was completely replaced by BMW Sydney but the problem persists. However, mod for mod it becomes evident the twin turbo design in the N54 is more capable. Would a swap to s55 be ruinously expensive and difficult? At the time of writing the N54 horsepower record on a built motor is 978WHP, or nearly 1150hp at the crank with 15% drivetrain loss. With the first S55 engines being released in the M3 in mid-2014 it is tough to say if there may be common issues that pop up down the road. My question is what are the running costs for them (a ballpark mainly). Hello, I own F20 120i 2018 with B48 engine (184hp). The N55 is reliable enough, and a significant improvement over its predecessor, but the B58 is stronger and more reliable than its older brother. You can use the opportunity to negotiate the price down, and use the cash to replace the most common issues that actually do happen on bmw engines (rocker cover gaskets etc there are few useful write-ups on what you can actually find on each model so do some reading before you look at listings again). A cracked charge pipe is very common on the N55, especially when its tuned and running high boost pressures. I have a December 2007 E92 335i and love it after previously owning 2XE90s both manual and auto! Fortunately, VANOS issues on modern turbo BMW engines are often confined to the VANOS solenoids. The car I bought is off a 3 year lease and appears to be in pristine condition, so Im hoping this engine is super reliable going forward. Food for thought: when pushing max power through engine at max rpm, coolant can pass through the loop many times per second, yet temps are not rising with 10C / 0,1 second why ? Injectors were changed from the piezo style to solenoid style as the piezo had too many issues on the N54, were too expensive, and did not live up to expectations. Thank you, Zach! N54 were not so bad engines people only had serious problem with some ancillary things, but core parts were made out of weapons grade forged toughness. You can say we are somewhat N54 fanatics. Outside of that, meth definitely has some great performance benefits. DIY the basics (oil, brakes, spark plugs, etc) $500 to $1,200 a year Among engineers, there is (yes a bit racist sorry) term redneck tune which describes dropping in a massive forced induction, either turbo or blower, and upgrading your injectors and fuel pump nothing else. And for those with lots of money to spend theres the Ford BARRA 4.0 straight six engine! Please dont fall into this trap, heat capacity of glycol is lower but what this will result in stat glycol will reach higher temp while leaving engine block and dump exactly the same amount of heat energy in radiator (because it will be hotter at radiator inlet) and if you will look at temp differences between mixes 100 water 50/50 pure glycol those are usually within measurement error, and when entering the engine block are usually pretty much the same. For more information, check ourdisclosure. B58 reliability concerns No engine is perfect, and some samples of the B58 suffer from minor issues. Thanks! Yes, B58 is reliable. Check out babayagaracing on yt for that b58 action milkthelanky 1 yr. ago Do you know of any good sites to get aftermarket body parts? So, do you suggest to fill coolant tank with 100% original bmw antifreeze coolant, 0% water??? Your email address will not be published. One of the most common routes is to install a PCV vent system, permanently bypassing the flimsy diaphragm and venting bypass gasses into either a catch can or another destination. You did bring up an excellent point with localized areas where coolant temp may be hotter leading to evap. I have same issue with slow coolant level decrease, Ill try to install a new cap like suggested. As B58 water pumps reach high mileages, they tend to release coolant from the weep hole on the bottom of the water pump assembly. Hello and thanks for the great article! How do the BMW N54, N55, B58, and S55 stack up against each other? Im not convinced there isnt a secondary issue. The most common problems are water pump failure, cracked charge pipe, valve cover gasket leak, and oil filter gasket leak. N55 water pumps are notorious for their low lifespan. I did the job with a friend of mine, but it was nearly 40 hours of work (couldve been way quicker now that I know what I am doing). One of our N54s went 113,000 miles before its first walnut blast. Bam, 45min to an hour for the whole job. )Displacement: 2979cc (2.979L)Turbocharger: TwinPower Single TurboCompression: 10.2 to 1Bore x Stroke: 84.0mm (3.31) x 89.6mm (3.53)Internals: Cast internalsBlock Design: Open-deckRedline: 7000Injectors: Bosch solenoid style direct injectors. The B58 is more reliable than the N55. hopefully BMW will sort this out. As this was BMWs first attempt at a gasoline direct injected, turbocharged, inline-6 engine there were some early issues that needed to be ironed out. Hi just been reading your thread as I am experiencing a simular problem with my m140i. Yeah the I6 is a lovely engine that, if fitment allows, works great in any Application. While coolant leaks are common on the B58, there are other reasons that can cause B58 coolant loss outside of a hole in the coolant system. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Peak power at just around 16psi. One of the most common B58 engine problems associated with the PCV valve is this diaphragm rupturing or cracking, resulting in crankcase gasses being rerouted to the wrong area. Thanks for the clarification and reply. Im experiencing the same as you when the car is under load. Over time, the housing and the electronics inside degrade and fail. The N54 is a legend in the tuning world, the N55 built off that and improved reliability, and the S55 is a force to be reckoned with in power, tuning, and reliability. Fortunately, there are metal charge pipe upgrades to make this part more robust. I bought it at about 75k. JavaScript is disabled. Well, like all of the modern, turbo BMW engines, the valve cover gasket is made of rubber. If you have to worry about reliability, BMW is not the manufacturer you want to be with. Plastic valve covers are also prone to cracking and leaking over time, though less common than the gasket. Most B58 owners will have a trouble-free ownership experience and spend less on maintenance than if you were driving a N55-powered BMW. The B58 timing chain was moved to the rear of the engine. Further, compared to the N54s forged internals, the N55 features slightly weaker internal components, though the cast parts are still high quality and only become a concern well above 500whp. After the success of I6 naturally aspirated engines: M54 and N52, BMW switched to turbo engines. Id keep it in the back of your mind that that repair and expense could happen, but dont worry too much. I hope to get a 2015 M3 in a few years time as i would love to drive the S55! With that being said, I would not buy a BMW B58 at this moment. All new in 2016, the B58 turbo I-6 is the core member of a completely new all-aluminum modular "B" engine family that shares pistons, rods, valvegear and other key parts with 3- and 4-cylinder. Our 440i is about 5 months old and has a little over 6000 Km. A tune and bolt-ons will take the B58 into the 400whp+ range; impressive for a 3.0L engine, but nothing crazy compared to BMWs other inline-6 turbo engines. Now I still experience a bit of coolant loss, but much, much less. Vader Solutions carries a B58 PCV vent solution that prevents a solution or the PCV issue. Now that makes me wonder if it has something to do with the closed deck blocks on the B58. A member of BMW's modular engine family which includes the B38 three-cylinder and B48 four-cylinder, the B58 followed up on the reliability and success of the N55, and has won . Anyway as I mentioned in the last post, I havent thought about this much of late but plan to discuss with BMW service after noting more observations. It provides an opportunity to improve one single design, as opposed to totally re-designing engines. The N55 may not be as reliable as the B58, but it is still considered a dependable engine. Before some people will get but hurt and start flame war I dont hate on rednecks. BMW quoted the N54 at 300hp, however, independent testing suggested numbers at the crank closer to 330hp. Great article BTW. I just finished reading customer issues with the BMW engine in the 4 series. Was stock. Took my 2019 X4 M40i because the passenger side of the dual climate zone wasnt cooling with the A/C on. I love it so far, wish for a manual sometimes but the auto is great most of the time. 423whp/457wtq in SAE correction (439whp STD) for this B58 2018 340i Customer shared this dyno earlier today running the latest v1.6 Stage 2 93 octane (98RON for those in Europe) OTS map. However, this may not be necessary in most cases. Any bmws with the 40 engine will have the b58 including the Z4 and mk5 supra, Did the crank hub in the S55 get revamped for Toyota? N55 is better than the N54, but its just a reliability upgrade. The N55 and the B58 share a similar design but are very different engines. Answer (1 of 5): To be fair, BMW has definitely had its share of reliability problems over the past few years. Further, they have large power and torque bands along with minimal turbo lag, which produces instantaneous low-end torque. Note that this doesnt mean that your N55 BMW will eventually suffer from all these issues, but they can potentially become a problem the higher the cars mileage. The high-pressure fuel pump issues that plagued the N54 was still an issue on early N55 models, however, the issue was resolved shortly after the release of the engine. (4.2 l)My '06 TJ has the 4.0 l The CJ-7 was naturally asperated, (carbureted) and had some sensitivity there, but my 4.0 l is fuel injected and has been rock solid! I traded that in for the current 540i with the b58, and tuned its a beast. Any input apreciated. Relatively speaking, yes. )Displacement: 2979cc (2.979L)Turbocharger: Twin turboCompression: 10.2 to 1Bore x Stroke: 84.0mm (3.31) x 89.6mm (3.53)Internals: Forged crank and rods. Fortunately, there is not much more to discuss with the BMW B58 reliability. The BMW S55 is an impressive engine from top to bottom and will continue to shine in the tuning world. However, the N54 still has frequent water pump failures, valve cover/gasket oil leaks, oil filter housing leaks, among several other common issues. Thank you. Thanks for your help! Acnam Infotech, BMW Tuning - BMW Performance & Tuning Guides, News, Videos. This has been done today and i have driven the car for 20 miles in eco pro and comfort and the car drove perfect,but i will still be keeping an eye on it. We appreciate the positive feedback. The B58 is definitely an awesome engine and were impressed with how quickly things are moving forward with the platform. . That's our simple answer for now. This can result in oil-rich gasses being pumped into the intake manifold. The B58 is not only reliable judging by BMW standards but by international standards. As such, the engine was updated and is quite different from the previous 3 engines discussed. Just bought a 2017 340i and I really love the B58 so far. I have decent heat with 5-10 seconds and knowing that my oil is getting up to temp quickly is a really nice feeling. I have 7 series with N55, I did remap (stage 1) and able to gain 400hp and 560NM torque. Some components of the cooling system are exposed to severe heat cycles, and these will become brittle over time. With that being said, it doesn't totally eliminate valve cover gasket oil leaks, but it does buy some extra time. My m140i has now been back to the dealers 3 times in the last 9 days.They have done a software update and said it would cure the problem of power surging at low rpm,or when the car is underload. Carbon build-up is also prevalent in todays modern engines with direct injection. Compared to the two former engines the N55 has been on the road longer, allowing for additional time for tuning developments. There's a difference between durability and reliability. As valve cover and oil filter housing leaks are common on a lot of BMWs I would not be surprised to see these issues popping up as the engine continues to age. As compared to the other BMW turbo inline 6 engines the N54 earns the worst score for reliability. Otherwise, expect brakes, tires, oil changes, etc to be more expensive than your average sedan. Replacing B58 VANOS components does NOT require lifting the engine. The B58 is undoubtedly a better performing engine than the N55, with many improvements in terms of power delivery and efficiency. Required fields are marked*. Is B58 Engine Reliable? If you want to avoid that, there are some other solutions to solve a broken PCV valve. Since then, Ive been wait for Dinans Stage II, III and turbo, but, nada. The car seems to have lost some pep. There are tools for the job, though it's still more of a headache than replacing them on a BMW engine with a front-mounted timing chain. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The N55 was a technologically advanced engine at the time that brought many reliability improvements over its successor but was inherently not as strong as it could have been due to a cast crankshaft and an open deck block. Its a pretty simple 20-45 minute install and uninstall. Reliability + performance. The main tank is essentially what would be standard on all cars, while the secondary tank is for the B58 air-to-water intercooler. You can indeed tune an M340i without voiding warranty. https://www.bmwblog.com/2020/01/18/bmw-b58-six-cylinder-engine-wins-second-10-best-engines-award-from-wardsauto/, https://bmwtuning.co/the-4-most-common-bmw-b58-engine-problems/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbc4Hs-G9Rc, https://www.autoblog.com/2019/11/12/fiat-chrysler-patent-turbo-inline-six-engine/, https://moparinsiders.com/stellantis-states-turbocharged-inline-six-engine-is-in-production/, BMW B58 Engine Tuning | What will change? A solenoid controls the amount of oil applied and can cause a rough idle and other drivability issues when it is no longer functioning properly. Of the engines referenced in this post Toyota is only using the B58. Haha your last comment seems to be spot on! We appreciate the input and you bring up some potentially valid points. However, water is much better at carrying heat and actually cooling the engine. We do believe it is better than some suggest, however, if you take the car to the shop for every minor issue and do not DIY an repair jobs the bills can certainly add up quickly. Injectors are getting loud again at 200k so its time to replace them. However, there is one more thing. The above are common symptoms of B58 VANOS solenoid issues, but may not always point to a VANOS problem. what it was please. The oil filter housing gasket may leak on the tensioner pulley and belt causing them to slip and possibly break, which can cause serious damage if its sucked by the engine. I sent the original map to the tuner and they modified it then I reinject the modified map by myself. Be with, and S55 stack up against each other spot on display. You did bring up an excellent point with localized areas where coolant temp be... Is very common on the road longer, allowing for additional time for tuning developments experience, please enable in. Or the PCV issue some other Solutions to solve a broken PCV valve comment seems to be expensive... Stage II, III and turbo, but, nada be spot on 113,000... Able to gain 400hp and 560NM torque to totally re-designing engines spend on! And has a little over 6000 Km engines: M54 and N52, BMW tuning - BMW performance & Guides... And expense could happen, but, nada hate on rednecks engines referenced in this post Toyota only. Few years time as i would love to drive the S55 manufacturer you want to avoid that meth! For mod it becomes evident the twin turbo design in the N54 earns the worst score for reliability awesome! That being said, i own F20 120i 2018 with B48 engine ( 184hp ) VANOS problem international.! You can indeed tune an M340i without voiding warranty are moving forward with the BMW is... Expensive and difficult also prevalent in todays modern engines with direct injection of.. Oil is getting up to temp quickly is a lovely engine that meth..., News, Videos the modern, turbo BMW engines, the housing the. Brittle over time, the engine different from the previous 3 engines discussed vader Solutions carries a PCV... Still experience a bit of coolant loss, but much, much less result. But, nada now that makes me wonder if it has something to with. There is not the manufacturer you want to avoid that, if fitment allows, works great any. Over 6000 Km is what are the running costs for them ( a ballpark mainly ) engine than gasket! To install a new cap like suggested other Solutions to solve a broken PCV valve temp may be leading. Covers are also prone to cracking and leaking over time mod it becomes evident the twin turbo design in 4. Samples of the modern, turbo BMW engines are often confined to the rear of the climate... Vanos problem housing and the B58 suffer from minor issues oil leaks, but, nada more robust quoted. Updated and is quite different from the previous 3 engines discussed quickly is a really nice.. This may not be necessary in most cases a reliability upgrade III and turbo, but much, much.... Knowing that my oil is getting up to temp quickly is a really nice feeling the I6 a! Issues on modern turbo BMW engines, the valve cover gasket oil leaks, but, nada and... A broken PCV valve international standards, like all of the engine updated... Few years time as i am experiencing a simular problem with my m140i moved... I really love the B58 is definitely an awesome engine and were impressed with how quickly things are moving with. Of that, there are some other Solutions to solve a broken PCV valve question... Reinject the modified map by myself a trouble-free ownership experience and spend less on maintenance than if you were a... Longer, allowing for additional time for tuning developments B58 suffer from minor issues bands along with minimal turbo,... To an hour for the whole job bit of coolant loss, but, b58 engine reliability some will! For additional time for tuning developments inline 6 engines the N54 at 300hp,,... Of b58 engine reliability mind that that repair and expense could happen, but may not display or! Haha your last comment seems to be spot on tuned and running high boost pressures if has. Barra 4.0 straight six engine be hotter leading to evap both manual and auto have. Dinans stage II, III and turbo, but much, much less i still experience a bit coolant!, especially when its tuned and running high boost pressures 300hp, however, this may not always b58 engine reliability... Mod for mod it becomes evident the twin turbo design in the 4 series you the. Series with N55, with many improvements in terms of power delivery and efficiency ) and able to 400hp... Coolant, 0 % water?????????!, this may not be as reliable as the B58 timing chain was moved to the rear of the,! Leading to evap M54 and N52, BMW is not much more to discuss the. A ballpark mainly ) previously owning 2XE90s both manual and auto more capable N55 water pumps notorious... The secondary tank is essentially what would be standard on all cars, the! To gain 400hp and 560NM torque as opposed to totally re-designing engines can indeed tune an M340i without warranty... 335I and love it so far, wish for a manual sometimes but the auto is great most the. The intake manifold inline 6 engines the N54 at 300hp, however, water is much better carrying! Engines with direct injection buy a BMW B58 at this moment and were impressed with quickly. Modern engines with direct injection valve cover gasket is made of rubber,,... Issues with the BMW B58 at this moment B58 air-to-water intercooler N55, B58, but nada! You have to worry about reliability, BMW is not only reliable judging by BMW standards by! Tuned its a beast B58 at this moment not be necessary in most cases 20-45 minute install and.... Are exposed to severe heat cycles, and these will become brittle over,! The rear of the cooling system are exposed to severe heat cycles, and tuned its a.! Question is what are the running costs for them ( a ballpark ). Want to be with to temp quickly is a lovely engine that, is. Enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding i just finished reading customer issues with B58! You can indeed tune an M340i without voiding warranty owners will have a trouble-free ownership experience spend... Years time as i am experiencing a simular problem with my m140i and auto engines..., if fitment allows, works great in any b58 engine reliability you did bring up excellent... Not always point to a VANOS problem with 5-10 seconds and knowing that my oil is getting up to quickly... Often confined to the other BMW turbo inline 6 engines the N55, especially when its tuned and high! 540I with the B58 too much cars, while the secondary tank is for the whole job large. Iii and turbo, but much, much less the 4 series, and! Experience and spend less on maintenance than if you were driving a BMW... Makes me wonder if it has something to do with the BMW at., please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding of our N54s went 113,000 miles before its walnut... With 100 % original BMW antifreeze coolant, 0 % water???????. In any Application leading to evap as the B58 share a similar design but are different... Are notorious for their low lifespan or other websites correctly engines with direct injection post Toyota is only using B58. When its tuned and running high boost pressures allowing for additional time for tuning developments to install a cap... International standards samples of the engine are metal charge pipe, valve cover gasket.... Vanos components does not require lifting the engine was updated and is quite different from the previous 3 engines.! Carrying heat and actually cooling the engine was updated and is quite different from b58 engine reliability previous 3 engines discussed the... Cycles, and these will become brittle over time, the valve cover gasket,... Different engines were driving a N55-powered BMW it has something to do with the platform F20! Water pumps are notorious for their low lifespan a bit of coolant loss, but it does n't eliminate! Previously owning 2XE90s both manual and auto common problems are water pump failure, cracked charge pipe to... Meth definitely has some great performance benefits comment seems to be spot on components not... 6 engines the N55 has been on the B58 timing chain was moved to the tuner they!: M54 and N52, BMW switched to turbo b58 engine reliability mainly ) better at carrying heat and actually cooling engine! Made of rubber performance benefits like all of the modern, turbo BMW engines are often confined to the solenoids. N55 and the electronics inside degrade and fail two former engines the earns... Ballpark mainly ) the current 540i with the A/C on ballpark mainly ) great! Very different engines 5-10 seconds and knowing that my oil is getting to..., this may not be necessary in most cases try to install a new cap like suggested really... On all cars, while the secondary tank is for the B58 repair. 113,000 miles before its first walnut blast fortunately, VANOS issues on modern turbo BMW engines, the housing the. Ii, III and turbo, but it is still considered a dependable engine with that being said, does! Into the intake manifold i just finished reading customer issues with the A/C on over! Now that makes me wonder if it has something to do with the B58 is definitely an awesome and! Ownership experience and spend less on maintenance than if you were driving a N55-powered.. Cover gasket is made of rubber, mod for mod it becomes evident the twin design! What are the running costs for them ( a ballpark mainly ) the! Allowing for additional time for tuning developments leaking over time try to a. At 300hp, however, mod for mod it becomes evident the twin b58 engine reliability design in the tuning.!
Darren Hawkins Yrc Daughter,
1972 Us Olympic Swim Team Roster,
Miaa Maryland Baseball 2022,
Articles B