[Musashi]

Originally Posted by insanecoder

I love the B58 but I dont think its a WHOLE lot better as it stands in the 340 than the N55 which is itself a venerable engine.. B58 has been mostly trouble-free thus far & got alil extra punch and I barely notice any turbo lag at all
Your article says everything that needs to be said.. ie B58 closed deck w/ more room upside for BMW to reuse for higher power variants

The forums are filled with B58 engine issues, including engine recalls. The issues never end, from coolant (water cooling), turbos. Interesting, had they ever considered that coolant does not do well at -10C and below? Either case, , in one year the forums filled more engine problems entries than N55 may yet to do in 10 years...

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by harkes

I read/hear so much about how the B58 is SO MUCH better than the N55. Apparently it has longer stroke while still reving as freely as the N55, but what are the other advantages?

Please be objective here - or at least try

http://youwheel.com/home/2016/03/27/...linder-engine/

Forums are filled with B58 engine problems, more so than N55 could ever achieve if we multiplied its entries over 7 years x5. Turbos, water coolants, engine recalls etc. Which answers your question: have yet to meet an N55 user whom, with extensive mods, had any issues (nor myself) vs have yet to meet a B58 M Perf owner without stock issues. Winner? N55 hands down.

[XutvJet]

Barring some of the spooky design changes in the B58, the only well known issue I've heard of so far is unexplained coolant loss. We do know that some turbos have been replaced in B58 2/3/4 series cars to supposedly remedy this issue. That's all I've read about.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by harkes

I read/hear so much about how the B58 is SO MUCH better than the N55. Apparently it has longer stroke while still reving as freely as the N55, but what are the other advantages?

Please be objective here - or at least try

http://youwheel.com/home/2016/03/27/...linder-engine/

B58 is 320 HP and 330 Torque (in F30 application, higher in M240i and 5 series)
N55 is 300 HP and 300 Torque

B58 is closed deck vs. open deck so more tuning options and bigger power gains possible.

[FastF30]

Lets see... the B58 weighs 50lbs heavier and due too it's architecture it is forced to sit more forward in the F30 chassis which was the result for all the suspension changes... this tends to throw the car more into a understeer compared to the N55 set-up when cornering...

Let's also see that the M3 went with the N55 but went forged on the bottom half now called the S55.... why if the B58 is so great???

B58 is created as a modular engine which resulted in more give than takes...

Also due to intercooler and something else will present more challenges for tuners....

So that's why I choose a 2015 N55 over the 2016 B58....

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

B58 is 320 HP and 330 Torque
N55 is 300 HP and 300 Torque

B58 is closed deck vs. open deck so more tuning options and bigger power gains possible.

A closed deck block is stronger, but when was the last time you heard of a stock or heavily modded N54 or N55 cracking the block? Usually if something catastrophic happens, it's a spun rod bearing or maybe a cracked piston or bad head gasket.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Barring some of the spooky design changes in the B58, the only well known issue I've heard of so far is unexplained coolant loss. We do know that some turbos have been replaced in B58 2/3/4 series cars to supposedly remedy this issue. That's all I've read about.

I had low coolant at 8k miles, but was likely due to underfilling at the factory. It was corrected and cooling system pressure tested with no issues. Haven't added any coolant or replaced turbos and now at 29K miles with no issues.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

A closed deck block is stronger, but when was the last time you heard of a stock or heavily modded N54 or N55 cracking the block? Usually if something catastrophic happens, it's a spun rod bearing or maybe a cracked piston or bad head gasket.

A simple Jb4 tune to the B58 leads to power gains on the order of being more powerful than the S55 in the M3.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by FastF30

Lets see... the B58 weighs 50lbs heavier and due too it's architecture it is forced to sit more forward in the F30 chassis which was the result for all the suspension changes... this tends to throw the car more into a understeer compared to the N55 set-up when cornering...

Let's also see that the M3 went with the N55 but went forged on the bottom half now called the S55.... why if the B58 is so great???

B58 is created as a modular engine which resulted in more give than takes...

Also due to intercooler and something else will present more challenges for tuners....

So that's why I choose a 2015 N55 over the 2016 B58....

A JB4 bolt on tune results in the B58 making more power than a stock S55

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by FastF30

Let's also see that the M3 went with the N55 but went forged on the bottom half now called the S55.... why if the B58 is so great???

The N55 in the M235 and M2 run forged cranks. All other N55s run cast cranks. ALL N55s have the same forged rods and rod bearings as the S55. All of this is taken from realoem and their parts numbers and model cross-reference notes.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

A simple Jb4 tune to the B58 leads to power gains on the order of being more powerful than the S55 in the M3.

Maybe a B58 with Jb4 and meth or ethanol. On pump gas? Nope.

Once you go FBO and ethanol/meth in a EWG N55 or B58, both motors will make pretty similar numbers. The B58 has limited tuning options and just like the N55, the B58 has fueling issues once you exceed 400whp. The B58 definitely is better at managing intake temps (an upgraded intercooler is necessary for the N55) and the B58 has better lungs from 6500-7000rpms, but that extra 500rpms isn't going to be a huge difference at sub 120mph speeds. With that said, the B58 is definitely the better performance motor, stock or modified.

[FastF30]

what??? no comments on this????

the B58 weighs 50lbs heavier and due too it's architecture it is forced to sit more forward in the F30 chassis which was the result for all the suspension changes... this tends to throw the car more into a understeer compared to the N55 set-up when cornering...

In my book... B58 loses just for this alone.... this is a sports sedan...

[FastF30]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

The N55 in the M235 and M2 run forged cranks. All other N55s run cast cranks. ALL N55s have the same forged rods and rod bearings as the S55. All of this is taken from realoem and their parts numbers and model cross-reference notes.

Really... this discussion has been going on for a while it seems from minor research I did and conclusion was no the N55 wasn't forged.... Hmmmmm... of course I'm hoping it is!

[insanecoder]

Originally Posted by Musashi

The forums are filled with B58 engine issues, including engine recalls. The issues never end, from coolant (water cooling), turbos. Interesting, had they ever considered that coolant does not do well at -10C and below? Either case, , in one year the forums filled more engine problems entries than N55 may yet to do in 10 years...

I think thats a misperception
the first year the B58 was out there was a minor consistent issue I cant even recall what it was and after that absolutely nothing except for the occasional report of low coolant and sporadic minor issues spread about
I have to say I am pleasantly surprised
my first BMW I expected hell in service and its been nothing but driving heaven
no issues whatsoever

[SeanWRT]

Stop lingering over trivial things, only these 2 things below are what really matter:

1) Turbo and Manifold
B58 hands down way superior, no question asked. N55 with a Stage 2 hybrid matches B58 in flow capacity, but still makes less efficient power for its restrictive manifold which is only good for quick spool a 300 crank hp small snail. B58 manifold has a much better tubular design, kind of which can be found on many high performance turbocharged sport car application. This manifold alone can make a 30whp difference on 15-20psi boost range, to my guess.

2) Charge air cooling
B58 stock water to air intercooler isn't all that great, or definitely not as effective as N55 aftermarket air to air counterparts. It is hard to find aftermarket W2A IC for B58 so resolution is just meth. But not everybody is interested to live with a car containing flammable material and some extra controlling device for additional injection. For those in favor of "clean", stock-like and flash only power, B58 is very very cooling limited.

Besides the obvious said above, there are debates on impact of higher compression ratio and undersquare bore design that B engine has adopted. Generally you will want a lower compression ratio and oversquare bore to have higher boost potential and top end performance. But it varies from platform to platform. N55 is already more highly compressed than most of none bmw turbocharged engines. We will see in few years how b58 holds up when pushed for higher power levels, also whether bmw would lower compression for S58 on next gen M cars, which I think is going to happen.

[ceedawg]

Originally Posted by SeanWRT

Stop lingering over trivial things, only these 2 things below are what really matter:

1) Turbo and Manifold
B58 hands down way superior, no question asked. N55 with a Stage 2 hybrid matches B58 in flow capacity, but still makes less efficient power for its restrictive manifold which is only good for quick spool a 300 crank hp small snail. B58 manifold has a much better tubular design, kind of which can be found on many high performance turbocharged sport car application. This manifold alone can make a 30whp difference on 15-20psi boost range, to my guess.

No arguments here 100% correct!! And this is a big one. Would be nice to have a similar setup on our N55 motors I'm sure stock N55 would produce the same #s with a similar exh mani and turbo setup of the B58.

[e38740imd]

where are all you B58 Haters now

[DreamerJoe]

Originally Posted by e38740imd

where are all you B58 Haters now

did you actually read through the thread? I saw a lot of POSITIVE feedback for the b58 and maybe 1 negative comment, besides timing chain placement which isn't "hating".

[e38740imd]

Originally Posted by DreamerJoe

did you actually read through the thread? I saw a lot of POSITIVE feedback for the b58 and maybe 1 negative comment, besides timing chain placement which isn't "hating".

i did. the fact that some people didnt believe the b58 was going to be a growing
and potential platform was just kind of crazy to me. especially after critiquing it after a only a year of its release.


i wish LCI 6er's got them instead of the n55 but. so far the n55 is pretty legit.
but that may change in about 6-8 years.

[OUGrad05]

The article says BMW never went over 340hp because of concerns with the block. I find this pretty hard to believe. There's lots of people tuning these things to well north of 400hp and some at 500+ and cracked blocks are almost unheard of.

Pretty good read I will say.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

The article says BMW never went over 340hp because of concerns with the block. I find this pretty hard to believe. There's lots of people tuning these things to well north of 400hp and some at 500+ and cracked blocks are almost unheard of.

Pretty good read I will say.

Agree. The block is also used for the diesel variant and consequently experiences significant higher combustiopressures vs the gas version.

[JaredG_F30]

the B58 and S58 is kick ass. I still love my N55 but my next BMW will have a B58 or S58 in it.