Question to the Experts! Which is N54 / N55?

[JMD]

My question is regarding the N54 and N55 engine designation for the *35i/xi E60 chassis turbo cars!

I'm under the impression that the 2009 535i/xi has the N54 engine (twin turbos,...don't know if they are twin scroll) and the 2010 models have the N55 (single twin-scroll turbo).

The reason I ask is based on a 2010 535xi Sport I saw on a lot.

Tia...

[AM330i]

I believe the e60 chassis only had the n54, the n55 didn't start until the f series

[JMD]

Originally Posted by AM330i

I believe the e60 chassis only had the n54, the n55 didn't start until the f series

Yes sir,..aware of that one. Note, I'm not sure why I was thinking that the model year 2010 E60 5'er got the N55 in its last year. I just did a Google and see that the 2010 3-Series also has the N54 engine. Well, that's cool in a way,...and not so cool. For instant,...better for modding!

I bought a new 2012 535i Sport,....love the N55! Also, I've had two different 335i convertibles,....and never had a fuel issue with either of them. In fact, neither ever had an operating issue. The reason I don't have either is because they both leaked water into the interior at the C-pillar during hard rains,...and when washing the car. I didn't want a car that would likely rust from inside out! Oh well that's a different story.

Thank you vm for the info.

[JMD]

Well! I bit the bullet and hope that the bullet doesn't bite back,...as I hope to pick this up my 2010 535xi tomorrow morning!

I returned the '09 528xi, Space Grey,...and got a '10 535xi Sport that is also 'Space Grey',...black interior, etc! The 535 is quite loaded,...CA, Premium, Comfort Seats,...PDC,...Sport, etc.

It has 71k on the clock,....and I hope to put tons more on it!

...wish me luck!

[AM330i]

Very nice looking car

[mpathic]

Did any of these come with a stick? Curious why you bought an automatic.

[JMD]

Originally Posted by mpathic

Did any of these come with a stick? Curious why you bought an automatic.

Vehicles at this level won't have a 'stick" unless the owner ordered it! I'm sure their are some MT 535xi's out there,..hard to find. Case in point,...I saw an owner with a 2010 538xi with ///M Sport Pkg and MT,...plus HUD! I told him that he had best hold on to it,...as there prolly are only about a dozen or so equipped as such as his in the entire U.S.

The reason for the "autobox",...I have a 6MT '13 ///M5 taking up residence in the driveway and didn't need,..or want another MT for DD duties.

[JMD]

Originally Posted by AM330i

Very nice looking car

...Sir, thk you vm.

[skrelnik]

Originally Posted by JMD

Vehicles at this level won't have a 'stick" unless the owner ordered it! I'm sure their are some MT 535xi's out there,..hard to find. Case in point,...I saw an owner with a 2010 538xi with ///M Sport Pkg and MT,...plus HUD! I told him that he had best hold on to it,...as there prolly are only about a dozen or so equipped as such as his in the entire U.S.

The reason for the "autobox",...I have a 6MT '13 ///M5 taking up residence in the driveway and didn't need,..or want another MT for DD duties.

Your car looks great. My coworker had a 2011 F10 and hates it. You scored a great looking car (knocking on wood for you) and hope it turns out well for you.

When you go to autotrader to search for a manual 2009-10 535xi there are like 10-15 available but the majority are auto because people think a paddle shifter or steptronic is a manual. So there are actually only 2 or 3 true manuals available. There is an awesome deep sea blue metallic out there with a great owner, which is me. So if anyone is looking for a manual check out autotrader. Next weekend I am having the audio system removed and OEM dropped back in, and will lower the current price a tad. While it doesn't have the sport package I did buy the sport package shadowline trim and rear bumper with diffuser, plus some other odds and ends, like had the amber reflectors color matched and added smoked sidemarkers. OEM pieces will travel with the vehicle so the new owner can choose what they prefer.

[JMD]

Originally Posted by skrelnik

Your car looks great. My coworker had a 2011 F10 and hates it. You scored a great looking car (knocking on wood for you) and hope it turns out well for you.

When you go to autotrader to search for a manual 2009-10 535xi there are like 10-15 available but the majority are auto because people think a paddle shifter or steptronic is a manual. So there are actually only 2 or 3 true manuals available. There is an awesome deep sea blue metallic out there with a great owner, which is me. So if anyone is looking for a manual check out autotrader. Next weekend I am having the audio system removed and OEM dropped back in, and will lower the current price a tad. While it doesn't have the sport package I did buy the sport package shadowline trim and rear bumper with diffuser, plus some other odds and ends, like had the amber reflectors color matched and added smoked sidemarkers. OEM pieces will travel with the vehicle so the new owner can choose what they prefer.

Sir, thank you vm. It has 'beauty marks' everywhere,....but that's ok. I just want the mechanicals to be solid. If ever I decide to do more to it other than just drive it,...I'll have it repainted,...and may be a few performance modes,....Like Cobb or JB4. No hurry at this time,...the M5 provides plenty of giddy-up 'n go!

Your car sounds nice! That said,...why not just leave the sound system in the vehicle! Also,...by adding sport shocks and springs,...the car would be a true Sports version E60. Will check it out....

Edit: I just realized that I've had more "5-Series" BMWs than any other model.

'84 533i (Grey - Grey Market Euro version)
'88 535is (Salmon Silver),...a blast to own and drive,...would love to have the TT N54 squeezed into this body! :-)
'99 540i Sport (Titanium Silver)
'02 530i Sport (Grey)
'10 535xi Sport (Space Grey)...current
'12 535i Sport (Sapphire Black)...current
'12 535xi M Sport Dark Grey
'12 550xi M Sport (Carbon Black)
'13 ///M5 (Singapore Grey)...current

...damn! 9 5-Series!

Thx

[skrelnik]

Originally Posted by JMD

Sir, thank you vm. It has 'beauty marks' everywhere,....but that's ok. I just want the mechanicals to be solid. If ever I decide to do more to it other than just drive it,...I'll have it repainted,...and may be a few performance modes,....Like Cobb or JB4. No hurry at this time,...the M5 provides plenty of giddy-up 'n go!

Your car sounds nice! That said,...why not just leave the sound system in the vehicle! Also,...by adding sport shocks and springs,...the car would be a true Sports version E60. Will check it out....

Edit: I just realized that I've had more "5-Series" BMWs than any other model.

'84 533i (Grey - Grey Market Euro version)
'88 535is (Salmon Silver),...a blast to own and drive,...would love to have the TT N54 squeezed into this body! :-)
'99 540i Sport (Titanium Silver)
'02 530i Sport (Grey)
'10 535xi Sport (Space Grey)...current
'12 535i Sport (Sapphire Black)...current
'12 535xi M Sport Dark Grey
'12 550xi M Sport (Carbon Black)
'13 ///M5 (Singapore Grey)...current

...damn! 9 5-Series!

Thx

Wow - holy cow that is a lot of BMW's! You are the exact Buyer I want to sell my car to. Tell me about those 2012-13's, what happened with them that made you fall back to the 2010? Did you want an affordable xdrive since you have two RWDs? What are you doing with all of these? I have two cars myself, but complete opposites, and Audi wagon (stick shift) and a Wrangler LJ (stick shift). Just curious to hear when and where you drive each one, and what you do with them. I really want an M5 but will have to hold off until I can find an affordable one with a stick shift.

The main reason to pull out the audio is that the majority of Buyers do not value the audio so it will make the car more affordable to a Buyer as I will drop the price. Then I can sell the equipment, or reuse it, and I know it is awesome stuff so I am all good with using in another application.

Also, the E60 xdrive didn't come with sport shocks due to the xdrive, it was only cosmetic upgrades like 18 inch wheels, sport steering wheeling and different colored headliner etc.

[JMD]

Originally Posted by skrelnik

Wow - holy cow that is a lot of BMW's! You are the exact Buyer I want to sell my car to. Tell me about those 2012-13's, what happened with them that made you fall back to the 2010? Did you want an affordable xdrive since you have two RWDs? What are you doing with all of these? I have two cars myself, but complete opposites, and Audi wagon (stick shift) and a Wrangler LJ (stick shift). Just curious to hear when and where you drive each one, and what you do with them. I really want an M5 but will have to hold off until I can find an affordable one with a stick shift.

The main reason to pull out the audio is that the majority of Buyers do not value the audio so it will make the car more affordable to a Buyer as I will drop the price. Then I can sell the equipment, or reuse it, and I know it is awesome stuff so I am all good with using in another application.

Also, the E60 xdrive didn't come with sport shocks due to the xdrive, it was only cosmetic upgrades like 18 inch wheels, sport steering wheeling and different colored headliner etc.

"Tell me about those 2012-13's, what happened". They all play a roll to me being content.

Like many on these boards,...especially if you're over 50 - LOL!, we've had many cars and often some are a stepping stone to what one is trying to get, etc. That's just a list of all the 5-Series I've own,...I only have 3 of those and a '12 X5M. It's not a 5'er, so I didn't list it. The '10 535xi is for my DD duties,..and I wanted X/Drive for Northern VA winter,..as there are times when we get some serious snow in this area. The '12 Sapphire Black 535i is my first and only ever 'new BMW',...all others have been one-owner cars,...even the '10 535xi. The first lady drives it,...I gave it to her,...during the process of moving from the 550xi M Sport to the '13 M5 (...with 6MT).

I'm pretty much set for a while,...'til BMW comes out with a 400+ mile per charge capable full electric car,...or 700+ miler ehybrid.

Note, my rational for another BMW as a DD,....I want operating the controls from one vehicle to the other to be without stumbles,...as I didn't want to go from a BMW to a Nissan,...Toyota,...Ford,...then back a BMW! It would have driven me nutts! An then,..the handling dynamics! I want to 'expect',..the expected! Hope this makes sense.

[skrelnik]

Originally Posted by JMD

"Tell me about those 2012-13's, what happened". They all play a roll to me being content.

Like many on these boards,...especially if you're over 50 - LOL!, we've had many cars and often some are a stepping stone to what one is trying to get, etc. That's just a list of all the 5-Series I've own,...I only have 3 of those and a '12 X5M. It's not a 5'er, so I didn't list it. The '10 535xi is for my DD duties,..and I wanted X/Drive for Northern VA winter,..as there are times when we get some serious snow in this area. The '12 Sapphire Black 535i is my first and only ever 'new BMW',...all others have been one-owner cars,...even the '10 535xi. The first lady drives it,...I gave it to her,...during the process of moving from the 550xi M Sport to the '13 M5 (...with 6MT).

I'm pretty much set for a while,...'til BMW comes out with a 400+ mile per charge capable full electric car,...or 700+ miler ehybrid.

Note, my rational for another BMW as a DD,....I want operating the controls from one vehicle to the other to be without stumbles,...as I didn't want to go from a BMW to a Nissan,...Toyota,...Ford,...then back a BMW! It would have driven me nutts! An then,..the handling dynamics! I want to 'expect',..the expected! Hope this makes sense.

You are definitely having some fun! I guess like most things in life once you pick up a hobby it just gets addicting and you generally push for a little more. With your wide array of BMWs you get a lot of flexibility, power from the M5, to the xdrive that can get you through 12 inches of snow, to that X5M that gives you the rare combo of power with a full carload of goods. Yet you get to keep the same driving performances, relatively speaking. When you are ready to sell that M5 in a couple years look me up!

I have to agree with you that staying in the same family of cars is helpful. For me, going from the BMWs smooth tight shifting to the Audis femine shifting (basically flick the shifter) to the Wranglers angry and rough 6 speed does cause some confusion, especially knowing at what speed/RPM to shift. None of these cars drive similar either, and the Wranglers reverse is lower right which can cause issues since the German reverse is upper left as you know.

You have an amazing garage!!!

[JMD]

Originally Posted by skrelnik

You are definitely having some fun! I guess like most things in life once you pick up a hobby it just gets addicting and you generally push for a little more. With your wide array of BMWs you get a lot of flexibility, power from the M5, to the xdrive that can get you through 12 inches of snow, to that X5M that gives you the rare combo of power with a full carload of goods. Yet you get to keep the same driving performances, relatively speaking. When you are ready to sell that M5 in a couple years look me up!

I have to agree with you that staying in the same family of cars is helpful. For me, going from the BMWs smooth tight shifting to the Audis femine shifting (basically flick the shifter) to the Wranglers angry and rough 6 speed does cause some confusion, especially knowing at what speed/RPM to shift. None of these cars drive similar either, and the Wranglers reverse is lower right which can cause issues since the German reverse is upper left as you know.

You have an amazing garage!!!

Thank you,...,..yeah, just North of 1700Hp collectively,....lots of hard work for sure! Gonna hold on to the M5 for a while,...as I think it's gonna go the way of the other 'special' M cars,....E30 M3,....E28 M5, etc

At least I hope it does.