C&D: n55 faster than n54 to 140mph. 2011 BMW 335i Sedan

Ryan335 · 09-01-2010, 09:00 PM

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...dan-quick_test

2011 BMW 335i Sedan - Quick Test
When it comes to turbochargers, two isn’t necessarily better than one.

BY JON YANCA, PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK M. HOEY
September 2010

What Is It?

Remember, this is Car and Driver you’re reading. You know exactly what the BMW 335i sedan is. It’s one of the best sports sedans on the market, with a perfect balance of supple ride and superb handling. For 2011, BMW dropped the N54 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six and replaced it with the N55 single-turbo 3.0-liter. With direct fuel injection, a twin-scroll turbocharger, and BMW’s Valvetronic variable-valve-lift system—the N54 covered its turbo and direct-injection bases, but lacked Valvetronic—the new engine bests its predecessor’s EPA-estimated fuel economy, 19 mpg city and 28 highway versus 17 and 26, respectively. Power remains the same: 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. Peak horsepower still arrives at 5800 rpm, but the new motor delivers its torque punch at 1200 rpm, 200 revs earlier than the old one.

How Does It Drive?

Nearly identically to the N54-powered 335i: It’s fast, smooth, and extremely stable. With the announcement of the move to the single-turbo engine, enthusiasts (including us) cried foul. We believed the N54’s output had been underrated, and that the N55, although matching it in advertised output, would be weaker in reality. But all of that can be put to bed. Our 2011 335i was just as quick as the twin-turbo car, reaching 60 mph in the same sprightly 4.8 seconds. The quarter-mile flew by in 13.6 seconds at 106 mph, a tenth behind the quickest twin-turbo sedan we tested. After the century mark, however, the new mill picks up steam, reaching 140 mph nearly a full second quicker.

How Does It Stack Up?

For years, the competition has been chasing the 3-series’ legendary dynamic package. The Infiniti G37 has come close, making up more ground in value than in performance, but only the 2010 Audi S4 has been able to dethrone the 335i in a comparison test. Still, the 335i is the quickest of its competitive set to 60 mph and provides a singular experience behind the wheel. The clutch and shifter operate in perfect harmony to provide effortless gear changes. Steering weight and feedback are finely tuned, and the suspension makes the car feel glued to the road but never harsh or unsettled. As we said in the comparison test with the S4, “It taught the competitors what a sports sedan should be.”

What’s the Cost?

The 2011 335i sedan is in showrooms now, starting at $41,475 with a sunroof, leatherette interior, walnut wood trim, power front seats, xenon headlights, and automatic climate control on the standard-equipment list. Our test car added the (mandatory, in our opinion) $2150 Sport package, which adds 18-inch wheels, a sports suspension, a fatter steering wheel, and bolstered seats. With Comfort Access keyless entry ($500), an iPod and USB interface ($400), and special Montego Blue Metallic paint ($550), this example rang up at $45,075. Here in Michigan, we’d add only the Cold Weather package to make this our ideal sports sedan.

ak335 · 09-01-2010, 09:04 PM

good read

Oulixes · 09-01-2010, 09:05 PM

A good article.

ybbiz34 · 09-01-2010, 09:07 PM

I have beef with your caption sir.

Directly from the article:

"Our 2011 335i was just as quick as the twin-turbo car, reaching 60 mph in the same sprightly 4.8 seconds. The quarter-mile flew by in 13.6 seconds at 106 mph, a tenth behind the quickest twin-turbo sedan we tested. After the century mark, however, the new mill picks up steam, reaching 140 mph nearly a full second quicker."

N55 is the same 0-60.

N55 is a tenth slower in the quarter-mile by a tenth of the second.

N55 is faster, by nearly a full second, to 140.

So yes, in one test, it is faster. But in the two other tests, it was NOT.

rKi · 09-01-2010, 09:09 PM

wow go n55

Blubaron79 · 09-01-2010, 09:13 PM

This should shut up the haters.

coolchu001 · 09-01-2010, 09:27 PM

more or less about the same as the N54, but wont be seeing much of an advantage until over 100mph... however, the fuel eco is improved

turb0mik3 · 09-01-2010, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

This should shut up the haters.

psh, let's see the tuning capabilities of the N55 with valvetronic... It's a good engine, but why do you think they put a N54 in the 335is? Or an N54 in the new 1M? Common now...

Kolyan2k · 09-01-2010, 09:38 PM

With all the respect to n55 the title is misleading...i care less about getting into 140 mark, and care more about 1/4 mile in which n54 was faster (not that it matters since numbers are identical) .... and what I like about n54 is that I can buy el cheapo stage 2 and run the same or better numbers then IS.

comebackidlci · 09-01-2010, 09:46 PM

Not much improvement(whenever possible) to the N54

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t/specs_page_2

michael1284 · 09-01-2010, 10:02 PM

lol OP is like one of those journalists that see one word, take it out of context and spin it 180 degrees the opposite way.

Brey335i · 09-01-2010, 10:12 PM

Faster to 140? wow.... cause that's really useful everywhere except for the autobahn

/sarcasm

A larger single turbo will almost always pull better up top than small twins. No surprise there.

So basically what you're saying is that N55 owners are superior now cause they can break the law more efficiently?

Kolyan2k · 09-01-2010, 10:21 PM

those fcking thread start coming up more and more....n54 vs n55

I am pretty sure that they are almost identical in performance. single turbo = more reliable = less maintenance, n55 has better mpg, n54 is much faster with tune. <<< thats it, there is no more to it.

mr.kobayashi · 09-01-2010, 10:58 PM

C&D is all over the N55's nuts. Looking forward to the S4 showdown redux, perhaps now before the F30.

majin ssj eric · 09-01-2010, 11:08 PM

C&D has BMW roundels for balls....

Ryan335 · 09-01-2010, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brey335i

Faster to 140? wow.... cause that's really useful everywhere except for the autobahn

/sarcasm

A larger single turbo will almost always pull better up top than small twins. No surprise there.

So basically what you're saying is that N55 owners are superior now cause they can break the law more efficiently?

I actually didn't even discuss how much more efficient the n55 is in my original post. I was really just trying to say n55 owners are superior now because they can break the law faster. But you are right that they can also break the law more efficiently.

Ryan335 · 09-01-2010, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael1284

lol OP is like one of those journalists that see one word, take it out of context and spin it 180 degrees the opposite way.

Right. Because if I did that I would have said the n55 is slower than the n54....

infinitigor · 09-01-2010, 11:29 PM

I am all for the n55 for making a single Big Turbo will be a lot easier now.

datbimmerdoe · 09-01-2010, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by majin ssj eric

C&D has BMW roundels for balls....

aus · 09-01-2010, 11:43 PM

So how's it going to run with all that sludge over the valves since it's now valvtronic too?

jeremicium · 09-02-2010, 12:07 AM

Me thinks the N54 owners doth protest too much. If BMW improved upon the N54...great. If it's not as tune-able, great to have an N54 if you really plan to try and pull every last pony out of the engine. Either way...both engines are masterpieces.

SteveC · 09-02-2010, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mflowt5

psh, let's see the tuning capabilities of the N55 with valvetronic... It's a good engine, but why do you think they put a N54 in the 335is? Or an N54 in the new 1M? Common now...

Because BMW needed an engine with more horsepower than the standard 335i and the tuned version was ready to go with tweaked ECU and additional cooling. This tuning has been available from BMW as a kit for the 335i for a couple of years.

Also, next generation M3 and M4 will probably be based on the new N55 with twin turbos. There's no reason to believe that the N55 can't handle a far higher state of tune but marketing will surely decide which models it appears in and when. Given that BMW can now extract the same HP with a single turbo, launching a twin turbo N55 in the 335i would make no sense as it limits its future options with the engine

09-01-2010, 09:00 PM	#1
Ryan335 Lieutenant 111 Rep 428 Posts Drives: Macan GTS Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	C&D: n55 faster than n54 to 140mph. 2011 BMW 335i Sedan - Quick Test http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...dan-quick_test 2011 BMW 335i Sedan - Quick Test When it comes to turbochargers, two isn’t necessarily better than one. BY JON YANCA, PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK M. HOEY September 2010 What Is It? Remember, this is Car and Driver you’re reading. You know exactly what the BMW 335i sedan is. It’s one of the best sports sedans on the market, with a perfect balance of supple ride and superb handling. For 2011, BMW dropped the N54 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six and replaced it with the N55 single-turbo 3.0-liter. With direct fuel injection, a twin-scroll turbocharger, and BMW’s Valvetronic variable-valve-lift system—the N54 covered its turbo and direct-injection bases, but lacked Valvetronic—the new engine bests its predecessor’s EPA-estimated fuel economy, 19 mpg city and 28 highway versus 17 and 26, respectively. Power remains the same: 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. Peak horsepower still arrives at 5800 rpm, but the new motor delivers its torque punch at 1200 rpm, 200 revs earlier than the old one. How Does It Drive? Nearly identically to the N54-powered 335i: It’s fast, smooth, and extremely stable. With the announcement of the move to the single-turbo engine, enthusiasts (including us) cried foul. We believed the N54’s output had been underrated, and that the N55, although matching it in advertised output, would be weaker in reality. But all of that can be put to bed. Our 2011 335i was just as quick as the twin-turbo car, reaching 60 mph in the same sprightly 4.8 seconds. The quarter-mile flew by in 13.6 seconds at 106 mph, a tenth behind the quickest twin-turbo sedan we tested. After the century mark, however, the new mill picks up steam, reaching 140 mph nearly a full second quicker. How Does It Stack Up? For years, the competition has been chasing the 3-series’ legendary dynamic package. The Infiniti G37 has come close, making up more ground in value than in performance, but only the 2010 Audi S4 has been able to dethrone the 335i in a comparison test. Still, the 335i is the quickest of its competitive set to 60 mph and provides a singular experience behind the wheel. The clutch and shifter operate in perfect harmony to provide effortless gear changes. Steering weight and feedback are finely tuned, and the suspension makes the car feel glued to the road but never harsh or unsettled. As we said in the comparison test with the S4, “It taught the competitors what a sports sedan should be.” What’s the Cost? The 2011 335i sedan is in showrooms now, starting at $41,475 with a sunroof, leatherette interior, walnut wood trim, power front seats, xenon headlights, and automatic climate control on the standard-equipment list. Our test car added the (mandatory, in our opinion) $2150 Sport package, which adds 18-inch wheels, a sports suspension, a fatter steering wheel, and bolstered seats. With Comfort Access keyless entry ($500), an iPod and USB interface ($400), and special Montego Blue Metallic paint ($550), this example rang up at $45,075. Here in Michigan, we’d add only the Cold Weather package to make this our ideal sports sedan. __________________ Present: ‘17 Macan GTS Past: ‘15 ML350, ‘13 E92 335i, ‘11 E92 335i, ‘06 E90 330i, ‘06 A4, ‘04 A4
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09-01-2010, 09:04 PM	#2
ak335 Lieutenant Colonel 141 Rep 1,564 Posts Drives: Cayman S Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Northern Va iTrader: (3)	good read __________________
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09-01-2010, 09:05 PM	#3
Oulixes Lieutenant Colonel 22 Rep 1,938 Posts Drives: 330xi, 335i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Terra Borealis iTrader: (0)	A good article.
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09-01-2010, 09:07 PM	#4
ybbiz34 Brigadier General 735 Rep 4,959 Posts Drives: 2023 330i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	I have beef with your caption sir. Directly from the article: "Our 2011 335i was just as quick as the twin-turbo car, reaching 60 mph in the same sprightly 4.8 seconds. The quarter-mile flew by in 13.6 seconds at 106 mph, a tenth behind the quickest twin-turbo sedan we tested. After the century mark, however, the new mill picks up steam, reaching 140 mph nearly a full second quicker." N55 is the same 0-60. N55 is a tenth slower in the quarter-mile by a tenth of the second. N55 is faster, by nearly a full second, to 140. So yes, in one test, it is faster. But in the two other tests, it was NOT. __________________ Current: '23 G20 M Sport 330i Current: '20 X253 GLC300 SUV Gone: '20 W205 C43 Sedan Gone: '18 W205 C43 Sedan Gone: '13 W204 C63 Sedan
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09-01-2010, 09:09 PM	#5
rKi zergling! 3 Rep 96 Posts Drives: 11 E92 335i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Taiwan iTrader: (0)	wow go n55
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09-01-2010, 09:13 PM	#6
Blubaron79 Brigadier General 1450 Rep 4,728 Posts Drives: 2021 M340i xDrive Join Date: May 2009 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	This should shut up the haters. __________________ Current: 2021 M340i xDrive Previous: '18 340i xDrive; '15 335 xDrive; '14 435i xDrive; '09 335 E92 xDrive
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09-01-2010, 09:27 PM	#7
coolchu001 Lieutenant 49 Rep 583 Posts Drives: 09 BMW 335d Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: OH iTrader: (30)	more or less about the same as the N54, but wont be seeing much of an advantage until over 100mph... however, the fuel eco is improved __________________
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09-01-2010, 09:38 PM	#9
Kolyan2k Major General 992 Rep 5,555 Posts Drives: 2006 S2000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (1)	With all the respect to n55 the title is misleading...i care less about getting into 140 mark, and care more about 1/4 mile in which n54 was faster (not that it matters since numbers are identical) .... and what I like about n54 is that I can buy el cheapo stage 2 and run the same or better numbers then IS. Last edited by Kolyan2k; 09-01-2010 at 10:08 PM..
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09-01-2010, 09:46 PM	#10
comebackidlci Second Lieutenant 33 Rep 274 Posts Drives: White 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	Not much improvement(whenever possible) to the N54 http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t/specs_page_2
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09-01-2010, 10:02 PM	#11
michael1284 Colonel 279 Rep 2,701 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Comp Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: DFW iTrader: (47)	lol OP is like one of those journalists that see one word, take it out of context and spin it 180 degrees the opposite way. __________________ e92, e90, f30 #DieselLife, e46, f80
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09-01-2010, 10:12 PM	#12
Brey335i Banned 122 Rep 4,771 Posts Drives: e46 ///M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (11)	Faster to 140? wow.... cause that's really useful everywhere except for the autobahn /sarcasm A larger single turbo will almost always pull better up top than small twins. No surprise there. So basically what you're saying is that N55 owners are superior now cause they can break the law more efficiently?
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09-01-2010, 10:21 PM	#13
Kolyan2k Major General 992 Rep 5,555 Posts Drives: 2006 S2000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (1)	those fcking thread start coming up more and more....n54 vs n55 I am pretty sure that they are almost identical in performance. single turbo = more reliable = less maintenance, n55 has better mpg, n54 is much faster with tune. <<< thats it, there is no more to it.
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09-01-2010, 10:58 PM	#14
mr.kobayashi Enlisted Member 2 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2010, E90 LCI 328xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	C&D is all over the N55's nuts. Looking forward to the S4 showdown redux, perhaps now before the F30.
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09-01-2010, 11:08 PM	#15
majin ssj eric Captain 88 Rep 812 Posts Drives: 2009 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 Sedan Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saint Simons Island, GA iTrader: (0)	C&D has BMW roundels for balls.... __________________ 2013 Lexus GS 350 F-Sport Starfire Pearl/Flaxen w/nav 2009 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 sedan Sapphire/Tan w/nav 1997 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer
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09-01-2010, 11:29 PM	#18
infinitigor Major 131 Rep 1,032 Posts Drives: 2023 M3C, 2010 E350 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Houston / NYC iTrader: (8)	I am all for the n55 for making a single Big Turbo will be a lot easier now.
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09-01-2010, 11:43 PM	#20
aus Major General 928 Rep 9,032 Posts Drives: Odysse Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	So how's it going to run with all that sludge over the valves since it's now valvtronic too? __________________ Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
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09-02-2010, 12:07 AM	#21
jeremicium Major 174 Rep 1,178 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 328i Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tacoma, Wa. USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00] 2009 Porsche Cayman S [0.00] 2016 BMW M2 [0.00] 2001 Honda S2000 [0.00]	Me thinks the N54 owners doth protest too much. If BMW improved upon the N54...great. If it's not as tune-able, great to have an N54 if you really plan to try and pull every last pony out of the engine. Either way...both engines are masterpieces.
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