N54 - Biggest Restrictions?

Nov 14, 2016
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North Wilkesboro
Hello Spoolers,

I would like to discuss what are the biggest restrictions in the N54 platform.

As far as restrictions, I am referring to the platform as a whole. I will be keeping all the restrictions organized in this thread so that we can use this to keep moving forward!

Restrictions:
Solved:
  • Airflow with Stock Plumbing
  • Stock Turbos
  • Head Porting to Increase Airflow
Unsolved:
  • Issues with false knock on built engines
  • Flash Only Meth/PI Control
  • Replacement Components to support higher RPM
Needs Improving:
  • Shift bog, drop of power between shifts regardless of NLS or MHD shift bog "fix"
  • Gearing, mainly for 1/4mile people
  • Fueling, a true/safe way to control PI and link it to the DME
  • Cams with higher lift

Please reply to the topic with the biggest restrictions you know of with this platform and feel free to elaborate on why this is a restriction.

I want to make this thread a collective of information from the community so, I will leave the beginning of the thread up to you guys to see what you ALL come up with versus just what I believe.


All comments/feedback/responses are appreciated!

Thanks,
Derek
 
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TurboMike

Corporal
Nov 22, 2016
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•Fueling, a true/safe way to control PI and link it to the DME

•Gearing, mainly for 1/4mile people

•Shift bog, drop of power between shifts regardless of NLS or MHD shift bog "fix"

•The consumers, everyone is cheap and doesn't want to spend money but wants to have 900whp. Yes I like to save money and get the best price available but power and reliability costs money. It'll be cheaper as the market grows but right now it is what it is. Don't own a BMW if you can't afford too.
 

doublespaces

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Oct 18, 2016
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Proper fueling. Issues with false knock on built engines. There are many more smaller things I'd say
 
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TurboMike

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Nov 22, 2016
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What about airflow? Shouldn't the stock turbos be on this list?
The only thing wrong with the stock turbos is the wastegates really. Those things are so small and are able to put out 400-450whp 400-500wtq consistently while some get the the 500whp mark. The turbos themselves are pretty awesome in a power output perspective.

There are also numerous fixes and turbo choices established on the market now. I wouldn't say airflow has ever been a problem even before the days of inlets and outlets when we only had intakes.

I for one put down 417whp/456tq on 93oct with basic bolt on's 3-4 years ago before there were inlets and outlets available. I was using aFE stage 2 intake and running 19.2psi with Cobb. Before we bash Cobb though MHD was not heard of then
 
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1and1

Specialist
Dec 28, 2016
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Well, there was no power number noted in the OP as a target or "to exceed" number, so my thought process was more literal along the restriction lines- 5500 RPM shift point vs 6700 RPM redline and how peak boost needs to be tapered down as RPM's climb- both symptoms are, by definition, restrictive when compared with aftermarket solutions.

Aside from those symptoms for sure the stock turbos are good for some decent power and can be considered pretty darn respectable compared to many other stock turbos like the K03/K03Sport or even K04 variants common in the VW or Mazdaspeed world.
 

AzNdevil

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Nov 4, 2016
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solved...
head porting to increase airflow

in progress...
cams with higher lift

unsolved?
bits that can support higher rpm to go with ported head and high lift cams?
flash only meth/pi control
 

TurboMike

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Nov 22, 2016
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solved...
head porting to increase airflow

in progress...
cams with higher lift

unsolved?
bits that can support higher rpm to go with ported head and high lift cams?
flash only meth/pi control
Agreed an 8k rev limit with a ST would be awesome. I know Tony Vargas posted something about them running to 7800rpm or something
 
Nov 14, 2016
655
262
0
North Wilkesboro
Reliable 8k would be real nice.
Makes you wonder how under-rated the N54 truly is.
Considering, we have people running 1k RPM over stock - No issues so far, 4x the boost of stock - No issues so far, and you can always say if you balance things out it will not give any issues. But I am just saying that, some engine will not handle that much difference compared to stock as well as we do.

EDIT: Updated thread, would you guys also like me to add the "resolutions" to the solved issues? Meaning, the issues we have resolutions for we can post what needed to be done.
 
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doublespaces

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Oct 18, 2016
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Makes you wonder how under-rated the N54 truly is.
Considering, we have people running 1k RPM over stock - No issues so far, 4x the boost of stock - No issues so far, and you can always say if you balance things out it will not give any issues. But I am just saying that, some engine will not handle that much difference compared to stock as well as we do.

EDIT: Updated thread, would you guys also like me to add the "resolutions" to the solved issues? Meaning, the issues we have resolutions for we can post what needed to be done.
Probably not because then you have a brand war. That is why I think it would be better to focus on unsolved restrictions.
 

V8bait

Lieutenant
Nov 2, 2016
500
773
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Texas
Hello Spoolers,

I would like to discuss what are the biggest restrictions in the N54 platform.

As far as restrictions, I am referring to the platform as a whole. I will be keeping all the restrictions organized in this thread so that we can use this to keep moving forward!

Restrictions:
Solved:
  • Airflow with Stock Plumbing
  • Stock Turbos
  • Head Porting to Increase Airflow
  • Issues with false knock on built engines
  • Replacement Components to support higher RPM
  • Gearing, mainly for 1/4mile people
  • Fueling, a true/safe way to control PI and link it to the DME
  • Shift bog, drop of power between shifts regardless of NLS or MHD shift bog "fix"
Unsolved:
  • Flash Only Meth/PI Control
Needs Improving:
  • Cams with higher lift

fixed.

False knock can be fixed without desensitizing. Components to rev to 8000+ are available, although there is a DME hard limit around 8300 or so, and a pesky torque limiter when shifting in higher gears. The RPM components are there. For gearing, there are multiple final drive ratios available from 2.56, 2.81, 3.08, 3,15, and 3.46 all with LSD's. For fueling, you can go 100% DI with dual pumps to virtually any power level with race gas, and to over 800whp with full E85, no need for PI. Shift bog is virtually eliminated when running a good flash with a tuned WOTBOX, the JB4 NLS never worked that well since you can't adjust it.

On your remaining issues, there's whispers of cams becoming available in the near future.
 
Nov 14, 2016
655
262
0
North Wilkesboro
fixed.

False knock can be fixed without desensitizing. Components to rev to 8000+ are available, although there is a DME hard limit around 8300 or so, and a pesky torque limiter when shifting in higher gears. The RPM components are there. For gearing, there are multiple final drive ratios available from 2.56, 2.81, 3.08, 3,15, and 3.46 all with LSD's. For fueling, you can go 100% DI with dual pumps to virtually any power level with race gas, and to over 800whp with full E85, no need for PI. Shift bog is virtually eliminated when running a good flash with a tuned WOTBOX, the JB4 NLS never worked that well since you can't adjust it.

On your remaining issues, there's whispers of cams becoming available in the near future.
This is why I wanted to document the parts that would "resolve" the issues. We could just not mention the brand and state the parts that need replacing / upgrading. More or less for informative purposes
 
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TurboMike

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Nov 22, 2016
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fixed.

False knock can be fixed without desensitizing. Components to rev to 8000+ are available, although there is a DME hard limit around 8300 or so, and a pesky torque limiter when shifting in higher gears. The RPM components are there. For gearing, there are multiple final drive ratios available from 2.56, 2.81, 3.08, 3,15, and 3.46 all with LSD's. For fueling, you can go 100% DI with dual pumps to virtually any power level with race gas, and to over 800whp with full E85, no need for PI. Shift bog is virtually eliminated when running a good flash with a tuned WOTBOX, the JB4 NLS never worked that well since you can't adjust it.

On your remaining issues, there's whispers of cams becoming available in the near future.
The fueling is based on Tony's claims of the double barrel doing this. It's has been around for years and I have seen next to no reviews on the product besides it failing. Recently he has re-highlighted the product with the GC turbos and yes put down great power. However longevity and outher users has not been established. Not bashing the product in sure it works but for how long as our pumps are one of the week points in the system to begin with. I am one for results and reviews. PI is the popular method and has been even with that product on the market. If there was a completely upgraded hpfp that wasn't running OEM that would be a different story.

PR has a 30a controller under development supposedly/ hopefully will allow PI to be controlled by the DME

The gearing is also not a popular thing. We all know the 3.08 and 3.48. With the "explorer" gearing option also out there the kits are still being designed I believe and once again no one using them YET that I know of.

I'll have to look into the shift bog because that's my concern right now and of course PI controlling.
 
Last edited:

V8bait

Lieutenant
Nov 2, 2016
500
773
0
Texas
The fueling is based on Tony's claims of the double barrel doing this. It's has been around for years and I have seen next to no reviews on the product besides it failing. Recently he has re-highlighted the product with the GC turbos and yes put down great power. However longevity and outher users has not been established. Not bashing the product in sure it works but for how long as our pumps are one of the week points in the system to begin with. I am one for results and reviews. PI is the popular method and has been even with that product on the market. If there was a completely upgraded hpfp that wasn't running OEM that would be a different story.

PR has a 30a controller under development supposedly/ hopefully will allow PI to be controlled by the DME

The gearing is also not a popular thing. We all know the 3.08 and 3.48. With the "explorer" gearing option also out there the kits are still being designed I believe and once again no one using them YET that I know of.

I'll have to look into the shift bog because that's my concern right now and of course PI controlling.

The double barrel wasn't for sale until recently, there was no method of controlling the additional pump. This has been overcome, in two different ways. As for longevity, the ancillary pump is OEM location so OEM or better longevity, the second is run like the single barrels, and there's a handful in the wild. Some have failed, most do fine, or at least I've not heard about them failing. Put a lifetime warranty pump on the shotgun location and a lot of your concerns are answered IMO.

I personally don't like any of the PI setups, at least all you'd need for better PI if you already have it is a better controller, so there's that.

Isn't the explorer option more geared (lol) towards getting the Ford components in there, not so much the gear ratio? I don't see many advantages to gear ratio changes outside what we already have available, I think the auto trans themselves are the limits until the various upgraded ones start showing teeth. I've mentioned to a couple people that if I had the money I'd have the dog sequential VAC sells in my car anyway. Parts exist, for the right price.
 

Reaper0995

Specialist
Jan 10, 2017
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For the biggest restrictions list, a way to control the center diff in the xi models. Not necessarily a restriction, but it would be nice to be able to display one or two Gage's on the idrive display, on the side. So you can still have stereo controls no the display while having readouts as well.

Other goals and/or thoughts to add to the list:
1000whp
9 second quarter mile run
150+ mph trap speed
Sub 1.5 second 60 ft (may have already happened?)
Pump gas 600whp setup no meth
Wireless flashing
Flashing that doesn't activate fuel pump
Intake manifold that significantly outflows stock
Stroker or big bore setup
 
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