[Torgus]

Originally Posted by arhoads335i

right everyone has finally figured out that the head doesn't flow enough with the direct injection injectors taking up too much space. A lot of people we contemplating trying to fit a N52 head because you could put bigger valves in and what not.

Right, but then you lose DI which is the whole benefit of the N54...

You can install slightly larger valves in the N54 head, port and polish, and there are now high(and low) lift cams available, albeit for a short time. If the head is the real limiting factor than then N54 will be capped at around 1000whp until a solution is found.

You also would probably need a stand alone as I doubt the stock DME would like the injectors going away as so much of the engine control is attached to so many other parts of the engine. At least to do it without a CEL and be able to pass inspection....but then again if you are at or around 1k whp do you really need a sticker? Are you really going to drive it on the streets?

It would be neat to see if the Doc Race IM had decent gains on the N52 but at that price...who wants to take the risk.

[hassmaschine]

I think if you're spending any amount of money on an N52 manifold, you'd better be custom fabricating one - there's just no way a boosted N54 manifold is going to be optimum for the N52, especially not for that price..

[mrnuke]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

I think if you're spending any amount of money on an N52 manifold, you'd better be custom fabricating one - there's just no way a boosted N54 manifold is going to be optimum for the N52, especially not for that price..

Hass, any update on the head that went to the flow bench or was that Pete who sent it?

[arhoads335i]

Yeah velocity stacks who needs that throttle body just have a kill switch

[Noir]

Biginboca, how long did it take for those cats to get the TB at your front door?

Edit: Sorry if it is in the thread, reading a bunch of other threads at the moment trying to further plan/understand
...

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by Noir

Biginboca, how long did it take for those cats to get the TB at your front door?

Edit: Sorry if it is in the thread, reading a bunch of other threads at the moment trying to further plan/understand
...

It shipped the day I ordered and I received no tracking by email. The tracking is attached to your Paypal account if you look up the transaction you’ll see it there.

They shipped priority mail so it arrived 2 days after I ordered it. Really awesome!

[Noir]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

They shipped priority mail so it arrived 2 days after I ordered it. Really awesome!

Thanks dude!

[Dormermike]

Anyone put a n52 head onto a n53 engine? Would be interesting to see if it's possible to convert a n53 to n52 and avoid all the HPFP and injector issues.

[hassmaschine]

wouldn't it be easier to just swap engines? the blocks are probably similar, but I doubt they are identical. Plus the wire harness and computer are different anyway.

[Biginboca]

So been running the N54 manifold over a month now and very happy with it. I’m finding there’s plenty of power for daily driving on the low end. With all the mods I’ve done the car pulls effortlessly from 2500 and many days I don’t rev it over 4K for almost the whole day... but there’s a bit of open 3 lane road on my last leg home where I treat myself and rev it out every day and it’s always a blast.

I listed my 3 stage for sale since I’m not going to go back to it. And Brown Santa just delivered the last piece of the puzzle I can’t wait to get this installed...







Yes that’s a 3.91 rebuilt with a helical LSD. This is my final power mod unless I decide to go to lighter wheels. Waiting on a vented cover to arrive from Deutschland and then installing this. I’ve been running a 3.73 diff so this is just a subtle bump in torque around 5% from what I’m used to, but it should make up for all the torque loss of running the N54 over the 3IM.

[Noir]

Very cool!
Excited for ya!

[InControl]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

So been running the N54 manifold over a month now and very happy with it. I’m finding there’s plenty of power for daily driving on the low end. With all the mods I’ve done the car pulls effortlessly from 2500 and many days I don’t rev it over 4K for almost the whole day... but there’s a bit of open 3 lane road on my last leg home where I treat myself and rev it out every day and it’s always a blast.

I listed my 3 stage for sale since I’m not going to go back to it. And Brown Santa just delivered the last piece of the puzzle I can’t wait to get this installed...







Yes that’s a 3.91 rebuilt with a helical LSD. This is my final power mod unless I decide to go to lighter wheels. Waiting on a vented cover to arrive from Deutschland and then installing this. I’ve been running a 3.73 diff so this is just a subtle bump in torque around 5% from what I’m used to, but it should make up for all the torque loss of running the N54 over the 3IM.

Happy for you! What benefits are you enjoying the most with N54 over 3 stage manifold besides the higher rpm. Is the linearity of reving her out worth it alone?

[E91Swagger]

Great job! I think you have the fastest NA N52 here with all your mods...the lighter wheels will help as well.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by InControl

Happy for you! What benefits are you enjoying the most with N54 over 3 stage manifold besides the higher rpm. Is the linearity of reving her out worth it alone?

I’ve posted it before but yes, how linear the power delivery is. And the top end is really great. I love how keeps building more power as the revs increase all the way to 7400+. And the lack of that dead spot at 4500 is nice too. If you have ever driven a e46m3 or a e92m3 and liked the way they build power and wind out then this mod is for you. If you like the torque punch at low revs like a 335 then the 3IM offers more of that.

I also noticed the N54 sounds different from the 3IM, it’s not as loud at lower revs sounds more refined and less ricer.

At first I was kind of let down with the N54 intake because it didn’t have that punch at 3000 Revs that I was used to. But the falling flat rapidly after 6500 I was experience with the 3IM was frustrating when I wanted to push the car. It was very noticeable, easily felt.

For me the difference from 6500 to 7500 rpms was what the N54 manifold swap was all about. If you aren’t going to use that part of the rev range there’s no benefit to doing this swap, imo. And you need to do a few other mods to maximize this swap too. I feel it synergies well with all mods designed to get more air into the motor at the top end. (Upgraded intake or ram air, Big Bore Throttle Body, MILV’s, Headers and Exhaust, etc.)

Now that I’ve spent some time with it I am very happy. If you are going to build the car “all the way” I believe the N54 manifold is the way to go.

[InControl]

Sweet. I'd do the same if mine was a stick.

[PORTMOODY]

just read the whole thread. Awesome job documenting it all.

[E90_DAN]

Originally Posted by Phyrexia

Why stop at the OE N54 Manifold? There are aftermarket N54 manifolds that, presumably, will fit just as well.

So essentially this n54 intake should work on my 330i e90?

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by E90_DAN

So essentially this n54 intake should work on my 330i e90?

It will bolt up but you will have intake/vacuum leaks. Look here for details:

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1582915

[Biginboca]

Wanted to update this thread since I have now changed how I run the N54 manifold.

First of all to have NO CEL and NO LEAN CODES with this swap you MUST do the mounting fix mentioned in the thread I linked right above this post. And also to simplify the swap I wholeheartedly recommend...

When you buy your manifold get the N54 throttle body which has a port on it for the fuel tank purge valve to plug into it. Using these parts you will not have to drill the second hole in the N54 manifold and rig a port for the fuel tank vent valve.

The N54 TB is a big bore TB for the N52 so it kind of kills 2 birds with one stone. In my case it plugged right into my cars wiring harness also so perfect plug and play. Usually you can get the N54 manifold with N54 TB for ~$100 either on eBay or on this forum sales section.

I’m running this exact set up for over a year now (~20,000 miles) without a single CEL this whole time. 7500 rpms redline daily. No issues!

[rjahl]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Wanted to update this thread since I have now changed how I run the N54 manifold.

First of all to have NO CEL and NO LEAN CODES with this swap you MUST do the mounting fix mentioned in the thread I linked right above this post. And also to simplify the swap I wholeheartedly recommend...

When you buy your manifold get the N54 throttle body which has a port on it for the fuel tank purge valve to plug into it. Using these parts you will not have to drill the second hole in the N54 manifold and rig a port for the fuel tank vent valve.

The N54 TB is a big bore TB for the N52 so it kind of kills 2 birds with one stone. In my case it plugged right into my cars wiring harness also so perfect plug and play. Usually you can get the N54 manifold with N54 TB for ~$100 either on eBay or on this forum sales section.

I’m running this exact set up for over a year now (~20,000 miles) without a single CEL this whole time. 7500 rpms redline daily. No issues!

Great update,

I could be mistaken but I don't think the throttle body from the N54 will work with the MSV70.

[slowcar]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Wanted to update this thread since I have now changed how I run the N54 manifold.

First of all to have NO CEL and NO LEAN CODES with this swap you MUST do the mounting fix mentioned in the thread I linked right above this post. And also to simplify the swap I wholeheartedly recommend...

When you buy your manifold get the N54 throttle body which has a port on it for the fuel tank purge valve to plug into it. Using these parts you will not have to drill the second hole in the N54 manifold and rig a port for the fuel tank vent valve.

The N54 TB is a big bore TB for the N52 so it kind of kills 2 birds with one stone. In my case it plugged right into my cars wiring harness also so perfect plug and play. Usually you can get the N54 manifold with N54 TB for ~$100 either on eBay or on this forum sales section.

I’m running this exact set up for over a year now (~20,000 miles) without a single CEL this whole time. 7500 rpms redline daily. No issues!

does this require a tune? do you have a diy?

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by slowcar

does this require a tune? do you have a diy?

Yes requires a tune. Only person I know and would trust to tune it is Bob Bishop at Stage FP