[sspade]

Originally Posted by Phantom10R

love the hilarious power comparisons..

bottom line, ewg n55 over any other option.

and if anyone who was stage 1 beating stock n55 cars, it was not an ewg car lol.

You're not too bright, eh?

A lightly modified N20 (DP/Intercooler) with a flash tune will walk a stock N55 (EWG or PWG).

This is based on statistics, not hopes dreams and fuzzy feelings.

[n55david]

Originally Posted by sspade

You're not too bright, eh?

A lightly modified N20 (DP/Intercooler) with a flash tune will walk a stock N55 (EWG or PWG).

Right… I said walk, right on by.

😆 🤣 okay

not a single thing you can do to convince me otherwise, modded or not... the 4cyls are slow af

[sspade]

By the way…. Props to rjd_F30 for holding on to the 6th spot with with 13.09 second quarter mile run in his prior N20 powered F30.

[floridaorange]

Anything other than a 320i. Garbage.

[rjd_F30]

Originally Posted by chaungo

My N55 has 172k miles

There's no coin toss at all, the N55 is more reliable. I race my car every summer doing lapping and I drive it in the winter.

Your lack of maintenance does not mean it's not reliable, chargepipe is a known issue since the platform existed, it's a 200$ fix. OFHG and coolant lines are other known issues as well, heat cycles will wear out gaskets and the plastic as per any car, so you'll also have valve cover gasket to swap as well.

Nice, but that's anecdotal, as were my experiences. Just because you have 172k doesn't mean the N55 is more reliable. If you look on FB marketplace or wherever else, there are N20s with that many or more miles.

My... lack of maintenance? I maintain my car to a T... the chargepipe cracked a week after I got it and I replaced it with an ER CP. I bought it with a leaky OFHG and remedied the issue immediately. The coolant line broke during an FMIC install and was replaced. None of my issues were the result of negligence. And, just because an issue is common/well known/preventable doesn't mean it doesn't count as a demerit towards reliability. Everyone knows 2.5 Subies have head gasket issues, but just because you know that at some point you're going to start pissing coolant out from under the head doesn't make it reliable, unless you want to rely on it leaving you stranded lol I know seals and gaskets will deteriorate on any car over time, that's why I didn't really consider those points against the N55 in reliability

Listen: I like the N55 way more than the N20, it's a better engine in basically every way IMO, but I don't think it's fair to outright claim that it's more reliable. I think they're close enough to call it equal, and would just recommend looking for one with proper service history

[n55david]

Originally Posted by rjd_F30

Nice, but that's anecdotal, as were my experiences. Just because you have 172k doesn't mean the N55 is more reliable. If you look on FB marketplace or wherever else, there are N20s with that many or more miles.

My... lack of maintenance? I maintain my car to a T... the chargepipe cracked a week after I got it and I replaced it with an ER CP. I bought it with a leaky OFHG and remedied the issue immediately. The coolant line broke during an FMIC install and was replaced. None of my issues were the result of negligence. And, just because an issue is common/well known/preventable doesn't mean it doesn't count as a demerit towards reliability. Everyone knows 2.5 Subies have head gasket issues, but just because you know that at some point you're going to start pissing coolant out from under the head doesn't make it reliable, unless you want to rely on it leaving you stranded lol I know seals and gaskets will deteriorate on any car over time, that's why I didn't really consider those points against the N55 in reliability

Listen: I like the N55 way more than the N20, it's a better engine in basically every way IMO, but I don't think it's fair to outright claim that it's more reliable. I think they're close enough to call it equal, and would just recommend looking for one with proper service history

of course there are more 328s for sale on marketplace. the average bmw owner bought the cheaper variant because they don't care about performance. nothing to do with reliability. same reason there are more v6 chargers, camaros and mustangs on the road instead of v8s.

[rjd_F30]

Originally Posted by sspade

By the way…. Props to rjd_F30 for holding on to the 6th spot with with 13.09 second quarter mile run in his prior N20 powered F30.

Wooo Haha that was a fun car, I miss it sometimes. It was pretty quick too! My 335i, basically equally modified now, is definitely faster (obviously) but the N20 was very torquey and paired with the 8AT and AWD was pretty quick from a dig for what it was. My 335i is equally modified and was only .03 quicker in the 1/4 mile (albeit it's PWG, but still was 10mph higher trap and it's RWD 6MT vs. AWD 8AT). At the drag strip the cars are basically equally matched due to the 328i's auto/xDrive advantage, but a 40 roll the 335i would definitely walk away.

[lens]

Originally Posted by rjd_F30

Nice, but that's anecdotal, as were my experiences. Just because you have 172k doesn't mean the N55 is more reliable. If you look on FB marketplace or wherever else, there are N20s with that many or more miles.

My... lack of maintenance? I maintain my car to a T... the chargepipe cracked a week after I got it and I replaced it with an ER CP. I bought it with a leaky OFHG and remedied the issue immediately. The coolant line broke during an FMIC install and was replaced. None of my issues were the result of negligence. And, just because an issue is common/well known/preventable doesn't mean it doesn't count as a demerit towards reliability. Everyone knows 2.5 Subies have head gasket issues, but just because you know that at some point you're going to start pissing coolant out from under the head doesn't make it reliable, unless you want to rely on it leaving you stranded lol I know seals and gaskets will deteriorate on any car over time, that's why I didn't really consider those points against the N55 in reliability

Listen: I like the N55 way more than the N20, it's a better engine in basically every way IMO, but I don't think it's fair to outright claim that it's more reliable. I think they're close enough to call it equal, and would just recommend looking for one with proper service history

Think you can call it reliable, at 172k with racing miles and winter, vs most probably daily driven N20/N26 that never see a track or isn't heavily modified.

And of course it doesn't count as reliability problems, gaskets fail on any car, it's maintenance. It's like not changing your oil and then the engine fails, the way I see it, what counts as a reliability problem is parts that fail extremely often. In case you're wondering, I'm still on my stock water pumps (F series have 2 water pumps which helps)

Remember, my car is making essentially 160whp over stock (my PWG made 260AWHP/265AWTQ, it's now making 420AWHP /438AWTQ for the past 90k miles or so)

Originally Posted by sspade

You're not too bright, eh?

A lightly modified N20 (DP/Intercooler) with a flash tune will walk a stock N55 (EWG or PWG).

This is based on statistics, not hopes dreams and fuzzy feelings.

Uh, my buddy with a stock 2014 435i xdrive walked a FBO stage 2 328i xDrive by half a car lengths.

[rjd_F30]

Originally Posted by Phantom10R

of course there are more 328s for sale on marketplace. the average bmw owner bought the cheaper variant because they don't care about performance. nothing to do with reliability. same reason there are more v6 chargers, camaros and mustangs on the road instead of v8s.

True, just saying that as evidence that an N20 can go that many miles as well, even if they do have the advantage of more opportunity being that they were sold in higher numbers.

[rjd_F30]

Originally Posted by chaungo

Think you can call it reliable, at 172k with racing miles and winter, vs most probably daily driven N20/N26 that never see a track or isn't heavily modified.

And of course it doesn't count as reliability problems, gaskets fail on any car, it's maintenance. It's like not changing your oil and then the engine fails, the way I see it, what counts as a reliability problem is parts that fail extremely often. In case you're wondering, I'm still on my stock water pumps (F series have 2 water pumps which helps)

Remember, my car is making essentially 160whp over stock (my PWG made 260AWHP/265AWTQ, it's now making 420AWHP /438AWTQ for the past 90k miles or so)





Uh, my buddy with a stock 2014 435i xdrive walked a FBO stage 2 328i xDrive by half a car lengths.

Your car, at 172k miles, definitely seems to be reliable. Just saying that your experience alone isn't necessarily indicative of N55 reliability generally, that's all.

On another note, curious what mods you're running to get 420whp from a PWG. That's pretty close to where I'd like to be at some point.

[lens]

Originally Posted by rjd_F30

Your car, at 172k miles, definitely seems to be reliable. Just saying that your experience alone isn't necessarily indicative of N55 reliability generally, that's all.

On another note, curious what mods you're running to get 420whp from a PWG. That's pretty close to where I'd like to be at some point.

FBO+PS2, using Bootmod3 and their PS2 OTS maps. Stock fuel system.

[F30lolz]

Originally Posted by Mracer

Correct, I will not mod this car. My M3 gets all the mod money

Have you narrowed down your search?

[Mracer]

Originally Posted by F30lolz

Have you narrowed down your search?

I think I am leaning toward a N55 in either 3,4 GC or 5 series (probably 2013+). I do not want a previously modded N55 though....which might be difficult to determine.

[n55david]

Originally Posted by Mracer

I think I am leaning toward a N55 in either 3,4 GC or 5 series (probably 2013+). I do not want a previously modded N55 though....which might be difficult to determine.

don't get the n55 535.. get an ewg n55 335. you will be happier in the long run

[Mracer]

Originally Posted by Phantom10R

don't get the n55 535.. get an ewg n55 335. you will be happier in the long run

can you expand on this? what is a "ewg" N55? I thought the N55 was the same in the 3 and the 5?

[Mracer]

Originally Posted by Mracer

can you expand on this? what is a "ewg" N55? I thought the N55 was the same in the 3 and the 5?

I just googled and now know what the ewg is. However, does the 5 have the pwg? What are the pros and cons (if not modding)?

[gameson]

Originally Posted by Mracer

I just googled and now know what the ewg is. However, does the 5 have the pwg? What are the pros and cons (if not modding)?

https://bmwtuning.co/ewg-vs-pwg-bmw-n55/

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by Mracer

I just googled and now know what the ewg is. However, does the 5 have the pwg? What are the pros and cons (if not modding)?

PWG has a smaller turbo, and PWG cars with the earlier build date are also more prone to rod bearing issues. The ewg cars have the bigger turbo with electronically controlled wastegate and updated rod bearings. Bottom line is that a EWG n55 is just "better" overall, and yes, has a higher power potential when modding.

[n55david]

Originally Posted by Mracer

I just googled and now know what the ewg is. However, does the 5 have the pwg? What are the pros and cons (if not modding)?

the 5s are pwg.. at least all of the ones I've seen.

[adhrp]

Re: EWG vs PWG, do note that the PWGs have a known issue with the wastegate actuators going bad, requiring the entire turbo assembly to be replaced. With the EWG, I have heard that just the wastegate can be replaced as a standalone part. That's $3000 (whole turbo assembly) vs $400 (wastegate only) in repairs.

[n55david]

Originally Posted by adhrp

Re: EWG vs PWG, do note that the PWGs have a known issue with the wastegate actuators going bad, requiring the entire turbo assembly to be replaced. With the EWG, I have heard that just the wastegate can be replaced as a standalone part. That's $3000 (whole turbo assembly) vs $400 (wastegate only) in repairs.

the wastegate issue on the ewg is very very rare

[lens]

Originally Posted by adhrp

Re: EWG vs PWG, do note that the PWGs have a known issue with the wastegate actuators going bad, requiring the entire turbo assembly to be replaced. With the EWG, I have heard that just the wastegate can be replaced as a standalone part. That's $3000 (whole turbo assembly) vs $400 (wastegate only) in repairs.

Have no idea where you got the information lol

You can replace the wastegate on both stand-alone, pure sells a heavy duty wastegate separate. The actuators on both fail extremely rarely which is why you never hear about it anywhere.

And if you're paying 3000$ for a stock turbo, you're an absolute dumbass as they go for 500-750$

For 3000$ you can buy a BigBoost kit or PS2.

Stop giving false information.