BMW N54 engine – Is it a RELIABLE engine or NOT?
The BMW N54 is one of the best engines introduced by BMW. This 6-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine features straight-six configurations. In fact, the N54 was the first mass-produced gasoline engine with a turbocharger function. It features a forged crankshaft and powerful connecting rods, which is why this car’s engine can handle a lot of extra boost. In this article, we are going to talk about some common problems with the BMW N54 engine. Keep reading to know more.
High pressure fuel pump
Once you start the engine, the camshaft drives this pump to deliver fuel to the combustion chambers. Direct injection vehicles use HPFP, which is the normal fuel pump.
Since this was a new technology, it caused a number of problems on many vehicles. Direct injection vehicles use HPFPS as normal pump pressure is too low to meet the needs of direct injection applications.
Symptoms of pump failure
long crank time
check engine light
Random blackouts or hiccups while driving
If you want to fix this problem, all you need to do is replace the pump. The cost of the replacement pump will be around $1,000.
Turbocharger fault/waste valve noise
Often on the N54, the turbochargers tend to fail due to wasted noise, which occurs due to vehicle wear and tear. Also, it can happen when you start the car and activate higher boost pressure instead of factor levels. This causes excessive pressure on the wastegate and actuator rods. This can cause booster leaks.
When the ECU compensates for this, it can cause the turbos to run hot or fail. The solution is to replace the turbos or rebuild them.
Leaking fuel injectors
Leaking fuel injectors are another problem with the N54. In general, fuel injectors tend to fail due to excessive use or wear. When the o-ring fails, the injectors can leak.
Symptoms of a failed injector
high fuel consumption
Misfires or rough idle
difficult starts
oil thinning
cylinder flooding
Excessive fuel odors
To fix this problem, you need to replace the leaking injectors. Be sure to replace all injectors to avoid future problems.
Impulse pipe/charge pipe failure
Sins BMW comes with plastic charge tubes, these do crack over time. As a result, most of the pressure escapes into the atmosphere.
Symptoms of a Failed Chargepipe
check engine light
slow acceleration
Cal mode activated, power restricted by ECU
If you want to fix this problem, you need to get a new charge pipe. It can break after around 40k miles though. If you are looking for a permanent solution, you should get an aftermarket pipe made of metal.
water pump failure
The water pump on the and N54 is prone to failure. Due to poor material and poor design, the pump will fail much faster.
Symptoms of a failed water pump
engine overheating
Radiator fan runs at abnormally high speed even when engine is off
check engine light
You must replace the water pump to fix this problem. Make sure you get the original pump as it will last much longer.
carbon build up
Over time, carbon can build up on engine valves and ports because fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber at high pressure.
Symptoms of Carbon Buildup
Rough idle, misfire
Power loss
poor fuel economy
If you want to fix this problem, walnut blasting method is the best option. During this technique, walnut shells are thrown against the walls under high pressure to remove deposited carbon. If you want to avoid this problem, the installation of an oil collection can is recommended.
conclusion
In short, the BMW N54 comes with a reliable engine if you want to know how to prevent or fix the problems described in this article.