N54 First post, fairly new to SpoolStreet

[Jon1998]

Whats up guys, first time posting here. I have been on spool street for a short while, have never posted but I read up on n54 posts and n54 build posts to learn about the platform. I have a 2008 E90 335i, its the first car i've bought on my own. (thanks to my e46 323i lol and a small family loan). No mods just running a pump gas tune. I have been taking care of maintenance stuff and trying to take the right approach before any crazy mods. Looking to upgrade some stock components over summer (CP, intercooler inlets/outlets etc.) and have been very interested in what VRSF has to offer.
SpoolStreet has been pretty useful and Ive learned quite a bit, looking forward to posting more and seeing what I do with my 335i.

Would be cool to get some more n54/n55 guys on my Instagram. Username is: 3trey5 ...or drop user names! (delete if not allowed)

 

[doublespaces]

Whats up guys, first time posting here. I have been on spool street for a short while, have never posted but I read up on n54 posts and n54 build posts to learn about the platform. I have a 2008 E90 335i, its the first car i've bought on my own. (thanks to my e46 323i lol and a small family loan). No mods just running a pump gas tune. I have been taking care of maintenance stuff and trying to take the right approach before any crazy mods. Looking to upgrade some stock components over summer (CP, intercooler inlets/outlets etc.) and have been very interested in what VRSF has to offer.
SpoolStreet has been pretty useful and Ive learned quite a bit, looking forward to posting more and seeing what I do with my 335i.

Would be cool to get some more n54/n55 guys on my Instagram. Username is: 3trey5 ...or drop user names! (delete if not allowed)

Welcome, officially! If you have any questions, feel free to ask! We have a FAQ stickied in the N54 section as well, has some interesting information you might find interesting.

 

[boostE92d]

MHD is a good start, in my opinion. You can go ahead and do the lowest tune. Whatever needs replacing will show up pretty quick. If you are running well after tuning, then congratulations. These cars do go through plugs and coils. I'd order a set of plugs as soon as you can afford them, and keep at least one coil on hand just in case. After that, the sky is the limit. Intercooler, then down pipes, then fuel pump (if you have access to e85). Intake and exhaust will add noise but arguably no power. The charge pipe on earlier cars, like yours, is better than later models. They still have a tendency to explode after tuning. Just my opinion, for whatever that's worth.

 

[Jon1998]

MHD is a good start, in my opinion. You can go ahead and do the lowest tune. Whatever needs replacing will show up pretty quick. If you are running well after tuning, then congratulations. These cars do go through plugs and coils. I'd order a set of plugs as soon as you can afford them, and keep at least one coil on hand just in case. After that, the sky is the limit. Intercooler, then down pipes, then fuel pump (if you have access to e85). Intake and exhaust will add noise but arguably no power. The charge pipe on earlier cars, like yours, is better than later models. They still have a tendency to explode after tuning. Just my opinion, for whatever that's worth.

I am using MHD at the moment! enjoying it so far, i need to throw more money at it so I can monitor how the car is running (temps and such). No doubt coil packs/injectors/ spark plugs are crucial. index 12's were recently put in, no misfires yet lol. As far as the charge pipe I blew off the diverter valve already but I did a little fix on it and its functioning well. Plan to do all the upgrades over summer. the car has handled the tune well. My N54 has treated me well so far and I plan to keep up the maintenance. Using rotella t6 for oil every 3k-3500k.

However any input on how theres been many guys blowing their motors? I have seen an increase in blown n54s usually the ones making 600-800 hp. Usually starts off with a lot of blow-by followed by loss compression/knock. I have been trying to take in all the information i can on those threads since there is alot of good information on what they think happen but its been all over the place things like (jb4 causing issues, Port injection which people say is false, Aggressive tunes, msd80/81 stuff issues). I find it interesting and also useful to try to avoid guys mistakes if they think it was avoidable. any input on that such as what you think is going on ? id appreciate any info discussing this topic

 

[boostE92d]

I think people forget that the further you go from stock, the more reliability suffers. That being said, I have driven both of my n54 powered cars with no mercy, and they held up great. Thermostat and coils blowing being the only things that stranded me. I don't think blowing your motor is very likely. I'm well over 100k miles of tuned hard driven miles at this point with very few hiccups, definitely no blown motors for sure.

 

[boostE92d]

Just drive, enjoy, and know something will break at some point. It's not the end of the world, despite what my wife says. Lol

 

[Aaron]

I don't think blowing your motor is very likely. I'm well over 100k miles of tuned hard driven miles at this point with very few hiccups, definitely no blown motors for sure.

Well I'm at less than half your mileage total, and only 20k miles tuned, and I've got a blown motor.

 

[boostE92d]

Well I'm at less than half your mileage total, and only 20k miles tuned, and I've got a blown motor.

What are the details?

 

[lamia2super]

welcome

 

[Aaron]

Not too many yet. 470whp FBO, running on a road course. Was about 18 minutes into my 4th half hour session, after a medium length straight (~110mph) went into a corner, and upon applying throttle for corner exit car started bucking and I got an SES light for #6 misfire. Smoking, running rough, burning oil, and the #6 spark plug is black. I disconnected the #6 injector and it runs even worse, so the cylinder still has some compression.

So far we're pretty confident I melted the #6 piston. Most N54's run into oil and/or coolant temperature issues before pistons burn down, but with 52* ambient temps and running race coolant temp settings in MHD on a 335is, those were staying well within normal operating range.

 

[boostE92d]

Not too many yet. 470whp FBO, running on a road course. Was about 18 minutes into my 4th half hour session, after a medium length straight (~110mph) went into a corner, and upon applying throttle for corner exit car started bucking and I got an SES light for #6 misfire. Smoking, running rough, burning oil, and the #6 spark plug is black. I disconnected the #6 injector and it runs even worse, so the cylinder still has some compression.

So far we're pretty confident I melted the #6 piston. Most N54's run into oil and/or coolant temperature issues before pistons burn down, but with 52* ambient temps and running race coolant temp settings in MHD on a 335is, those were staying well within normal operating range.

Wow, sorry to hear. Have you started a thread?

 

[boostE92d]

470 wheel on stock turbos? I daily drive around 400, so you definitely were pushing things compared to me, lol.

 

[Aaron]

Thanks, I'm bummed but not that much so, it's something I knew could happen and at least I was able to drive it home.

Not yet, I wanted to wait until I got the head off to get more info.

Now I just have to figure out whether I'll spend $500 and just drop a new piston in, or spend $15,000 building it ha.

 

[Jon1998]

470 wheel on stock turbos? I daily drive around 400, so you definitely were pushing things compared to me, lol.

How’s it feel daily driving it ?

 

[boostE92d]

Thanks, I'm bummed but not that much so, it's something I knew could happen and at least I was able to drive it home.

Not yet, I wanted to wait until I got the head off to get more info.

Now I just have to figure out whether I'll spend $500 and just drop a new piston in, or spend $15,000 building it ha.

I thought about getting a second motor to start building. Doing it all at once definitely makes a dent in the finances.

 

[boostE92d]

How’s it feel daily driving it ?

It's pretty fun but I hate to say you get used to the speed. That's why they invented hybrid and single turbos, I suppose.

 

[NoQuarter]

It's pretty fun but I hate to say you get used to the speed. That's why they invented hybrid and single turbos, I suppose.

Engine power is like getting a pay raise. You get used to it then it isn't enough any more!

 

[boostE92d]

Engine power is like getting a pay raise. You get used to it then it isn't enough any more!

Thank goodness you can work your way up slowly. Tune, then boltons, then replace all the things that break. Then wastegates rattle, so turbo upgrade of some sort, then replace all the things that break.

 

[sirdaft1]

Not too many yet. 470whp FBO, running on a road course. Was about 18 minutes into my 4th half hour session, after a medium length straight (~110mph) went into a corner, and upon applying throttle for corner exit car started bucking and I got an SES light for #6 misfire. Smoking, running rough, burning oil, and the #6 spark plug is black. I disconnected the #6 injector and it runs even worse, so the cylinder still has some compression.

So far we're pretty confident I melted the #6 piston. Most N54's run into oil and/or coolant temperature issues before pistons burn down, but with 52* ambient temps and running race coolant temp settings in MHD on a 335is, those were staying well within normal operating range.

Just curious, what is your list of mods? 470whp is definitely pushing the stock twins and normally requires either a heavy dose of E or meth. There are more than a handful of cases of blown n54's on track due to meth issues.

 

[Aaron]

Just curious, what is your list of mods? 470whp is definitely pushing the stock twins and normally requires either a heavy dose of E or meth. There are more than a handful of cases of blown n54's on track due to meth issues.

And that's exactly why I won't run meth, it's a dangerous band-aid masking poor build components and poor design.

The car was FBO, 19psi, E85, and PR coils.