[Moodist]

Is this part of the reason the 335is and 1M use an n54 instead of an n55?

[unfor]

Originally Posted by Moodist

Is this part of the reason the 335is and 1M use an n54 instead of an n55?

Finally someone with common sense in this thread.

[bimmertt]

Originally Posted by tscdennab

If they were forged maybe your engine wouldn't break ? A forged piston should hold much more power than like 450whp.

I wish they were forged. But why would BMW advertise "forged crankshaft" in their N54 documentation, and not also "forged pistons" ?

Also, how can a shop tell if a piston is cast or forged ?

enrita, did you by any chance noted the piston's "code" which was stamped on it ? I can send that code to someone at Mahle and he can look up for sure.

Why don't you give Mahle the two part numbers listed by enrita and see what they say?

[Forcefed3]

OP fail

[domrep]

^+1

since when was Mahle the end all be all of n54 components? Get a part number and google can do the same job. I hate ppl that throw names around as if just by saying it it'll make everyone's jaws drop.

[dzenno]

Pistons on the N54 are forged...confirmed in the thread on this board out of UK by moderator of the board, member name: E92Fan...see his engine rebuild thread..

[tscdennab]

Originally Posted by domrep

^+1

since when was Mahle the end all be all of n54 components? Get a part number and google can do the same job. I hate ppl that throw names around as if just by saying it it'll make everyone's jaws drop.

I know it's upsetting news, but if you we keep our lucidity we have the following facts:

- BMW never mentions forged pistons, but it does mention forged crankshaft
- Mahle's (the piston manufacturer) own response is that the N54 pistons are cast
- No one that disassembled their engine could provide a piston code until now, although some shops say "the pistons are forged". One question is, how do you tell if a piston is forged or not ?

[Forcefed3]

Originally Posted by enrita

could be actually see part numbers:
01 Piston (0) 6 07/2007 11257561698 ENDED
01 Piston (0) 6 12/2009 11257577581 $354.95


which could also mean i have cast pistons now which would suck big time...

That sucks, just missed it, 02/2008.

[unfor]

Originally Posted by tscdennab

I know it's upsetting news, but if you we keep our lucidity we have the following facts:

- BMW never mentions forged pistons, but it does mention forged crankshaft
- Mahle's (the piston manufacturer) own response is that the N54 pistons are cast
- No one that disassembled their engine could provide a piston code until now, although some shops say "the pistons are forged". One question is, how do you tell if a piston is forged or not ?

Mahle has never seen a piston, I have. Anyone can look at part numbers, but until they ACTUALLY SEE one with their own two eyes, they aren't an expert.

It may have changed in recent years, but my August build was forged.

[mithiral67]

What's the latest build date here for folks that have noted forged heads?

[CaptChaos]

Just curious, how do you determine if a part is forged from visual inspection? Is it the lack of casting marks on the surface or something else?

Thank you.

[dzenno]

Just looked it up on realoem.com and I don't know where you guys got the numbers above but it looks wrong...here's info from realoem.com (notice the "UP TO" date, its 12/2009, starting with Dec 2009 the N54 piston part number changed, see below):

========

No. Description Supplement Qty From Up To Part Number Price Notes
01 Piston (0) 6 12/2009 11257577581 $354.95
01 Piston (+0,25) 6 12/2009 11257577582

======

THEN selecting the batch of N54s built while N55s were out shows that starting in 12/2009 a new part number of the N54 pistons came out: 11257610295, 11257610296:

===
No. Description Supplement Qty From Up To Part Number Price Notes
01 Piston (0) 6 12/2009 11257610295
01 Piston (+0,25) 6 12/2009 11257610296
====

Notice that this new set of piston parts started in Dec 2009.

What this clarifies is the following:

1) All cars built before December 2009 have the same pistons
2) 3 members of this board had their engines taken apart and got confirmation on FORGED pistons, rods and crankshaft (enrita, unfor and E92Fan)

What's not clear:

1) Starting with Dec 2009 N54 pistons, are these still forged or cast?

Mahle isn't clear and "very possibly" referred to late model N54s (Dec 2009+)...

There is "no doubt" N54 pistons BEFORE Dec 2009 are forged as this has been confirmed multiple times...

[cn555ic]

Wow...thats a huge savings on BMW parts going from forged to cast....Just like they saved money on the engine hood insulator paid...Just think if it cost 1 dollar, million cars sold will have saved them one million dollars!!!

[enrita]

yeah and my block and pistons are from the new parts after 12/2009 so I REALLY HOPE THEY ARE STILL FORGED DAMN IT! Gonna ask my shop if they saw a difference in the pistons.
Seems though extremely strange BMW would just change the pistons "to save" considering as well the 1M has the same engine and therefore the same parts.

[unfor]

Originally Posted by CaptChaos

Just curious, how do you determine if a part is forged from visual inspection? Is it the lack of casting marks on the surface or something else?

Thank you.

Forged pistons are also dished and denser then a cast piston.

[Forcefed3]

This makes me wonder about the 335is and 1M.

[dzenno]

Alright, so just checked realoem.com for 1M's N54 pistons and they're of the 2nd batch (Dec 2009+):

01 Piston (0) 6 11257610295
01 Piston (+0,25) 6 11257610296

It doesn't make sense that they'd use cast pistons in the 1M! If that's true, oh boy LOL

[Moodist]

Originally Posted by dzenno

Alright, so just checked realoem.com for 1M's N54 pistons and they're of the 2nd batch (Dec 2009+):

01 Piston (0) 6 11257610295
01 Piston (+0,25) 6 11257610296

It doesn't make sense that they'd use cast pistons in the 1M! If that's true, oh boy LOL

I just checked realoem.com for 335is' N54, guess what:

01 Piston (0) 6 11257610295
01 Piston (+0,25) 6 11257610296

Maybe those new pistons were made for the 2010 335is and they continued to use the same parts in the 1M.

[werke-t]

Originally Posted by Moodist

I just checked realoem.com for 335is' N54, guess what:

01 Piston (0) 6 11257610295
01 Piston (+0,25) 6 11257610296

Maybe those new pistons were made for the 2010 335is and they continued to use the same parts in the 1M.

well looks like even the new performance n54 models have the cast pistons, Im sure BMW put the cast pistons up to test and they work fine with stock boost, so why not save A TON of money?

Only down side is the 1m guys might not be able to pull off the same numbers as the early build n54s...

-Travis

[dzenno]

Originally Posted by werke-t

well looks like even the new performance n54 models have the cast pistons, Im sure BMW put the cast pistons up to test and they work fine with stock boost, so why not save A TON of money?

Only down side is the 1m guys might not be able to pull off the same numbers as the early build n54s...

-Travis

Nothing like the early bird specials LOL

[GeorgiaTech335coupe]

Demand for pistons off of a wrecked pre 12/09 335 just went up?

[dzenno]

tscdennab, what year is your 335i?