[W3rye]

Right guys, been stripping turbo outlets and downpipes off my E92 after some undercarriage damage and seen small bit of oil around turbo compressor side...further investigation and I've found out that the aluminium intercooler pipework has been pushed up slightly causing the compressor housing to move slightly which was enough to make the compressor blades foul the compressor housing ever so slightly but enough to damage the blades and causing them to lock up so a rebuild needed.

Just wondering what people would advise...

1. Strip turbos off and send away for a rebuild to OEM spec (if so who to send to?)

2. Strip and have them rebuilt to a better than OEM spec hybrids (same as above for who to use?)

3. Go the full upgraded route...if so what makes people recommend and prices?

If anyone has info on best options and prices?
Not wanting to spend the earth on fixing it if I can help it.

Car only has 24k on it

[DrewM.]

That's some pretty bad luck especially on a car with so few mile, without the accident I'm sure your turbos would of last many thousands more miles.

I guess what route you choose depends on your goals, if you want more power than the stock turbos can make you'll need to get hybrid turbos, which rules out option one.

I have no direct experience in replacing turbos on an N54, but have researched the subject a little for when the time come to replace/upgrade my turbo's.

What I've found is here in the UK there are very few aftermarket/hybrid turbo options.

There are plenty of turbo refurbishment companies but due to the relatively small numbers of N54 powered cars here in the UK not many have developed an alternative solution, a few have tried but their reliability seems to be a little iffy.

Turbo dynamics used to offer a hybrid replacements but they had reliability issue, as far as I know they have ceased production, another big name in the UK, Turbo Technics don't list an upgrade option, although they may well be able to rebuild your units, they may be worth a call.

If you want a rebuild it would probably be easiest to call about to see what can be done, other than that it's purchasing new from BMW or biting the bullet and ordering from one of the big names from the US, RB and pure seem well regarded, from what I've read, Vargas can be a but hit and miss.

One UK based seller I've found is a company called Bespoke tuning, they offer new hybrid turbos capable (so they say) of 500bhp for a reasonable £2250 or 700bhp capable for £2350, MLR performance sell TTE turbos starting from £2700 but this is using your old turbos, not new housings and CHRA's but I'd be reluctant to buy any of these due to the virtually none existent reviews regarding fitment, reliability and whether they actually make the figures they claim.

I would not be fitting the turbo's myself, so would rather buy a well tested turbo that will be reliable and will not fail prematurely costing me more in labour, if your doing the work yourself you may be willing to risk buying cheaper turbo's from a less well known company, pays your money takes your choice as they say.

[748adam]

I’ve just taken advantage of Pure’s Black Friday deal (15% off) and ordered a set of the stage 2 High Flows (rated upto 700hp) but also considered upgrading via AET turbos, they do there own hybrids (you send your turbos in for rebuild). They seem to have a solid reputation and the main reason I didn’t go the AET route was because I’m aiming for 600hp and they don’t do a turbo to get me there.

[W3rye]

Thanks for the comments guys 👍🏼

If I was to replace Turbos for different units, I would want plug/play as much as possible in terms of OEM mountings etc. Don't want to be having issues fabricating parts for a bespoke solution. Want to keep it as simple as possible if I can help it.

Thanks for input on turbo rebuilders/companies. I'll probably try AET and give them a call and have a talk to them to see what my options could be with them, if they offer a hybrid option when rebuilding as would make sense upgrading whilst it's in bits

Wasn't aiming for 700bhp or anything initially when I bought the car, but thought a nice reliable 400 - 500bhp figure would be nice. So may be able to achieve that with just hybrids and OEM bodies.

Just bought evolve downpipes Friday aswell in the Black Friday offers.

Plans are to get 7" VRSF fmic and DCI aswell then was going to get silicone inlets and a map to suit, weather that be my local remap guy or JB4 yet I haven't decided

So should see 400+ with oem spec turbos, but somewhere about 450+ if I went hybrids I would hope.

Just need to weigh up options on bang for buck.

Either of you guys have price estimations on rebuild pricing?

[748adam]

Just as a heads up, there is a set of hybrids in the classified section

[W3rye]

Originally Posted by 748adam

Just as a heads up, there is a set of hybrids in the classified section

Just been emailing him bud 👍🏼 cheers

[W3rye]

Just been talking to a few lads on a 335i/n54 page on Facebook and they've recommended buying the Chinese TD04L 17t billet types. As a few lads on there have them and seem reliable but not actually heard off any directly about them

Has anyone got these installed on their car on here? Or know of anyone running them? And could recommend them.

The lads on the page have said that they are essentially the Vargas VTT turbos but with their logo ground off, as the VTT ones get built in China anyway? Just these are essentially half the price.
Wondering if anyone thinks they are worth the risk buying and installing for the price? Or do I just bite the bullet and go for Rob Beck or VTT or pure turbos?

Link below

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F123412764720

[748adam]

Personally, knowing how much of a nightmare it is to install the turbos, I’d rather buy from a company that offer a warranty on their products, they probably won’t warranty the labour costs but they will replace the turbos. Having spoken to a few customers of Pure their customer service seems pretty spot on.

[Yam_440i]

Originally Posted by W3rye

Just been talking to a few lads on a 335i/n54 page on Facebook and they've recommended buying the Chinese TD04L 17t billet types. As a few lads on there have them and seem reliable but not actually heard off any directly about them

Has anyone got these installed on their car on here? Or know of anyone running them? And could recommend them.

The lads on the page have said that they are essentially the Vargas VTT turbos but with their logo ground off, as the VTT ones get built in China anyway? Just these are essentially half the price.
Wondering if anyone thinks they are worth the risk buying and installing for the price? Or do I just bite the bullet and go for Rob Beck or VTT or pure turbos?

Link below

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F123412764720

Just a random thought, if you were to buy this, what tune would you put on? Something completely custom or what MHD work?

[W3rye]

Originally Posted by Yam_335i

Just a random thought, if you were to buy this, what tune would you put on? Something completely custom or what MHD work?

Not even thought much into the map side of it yet.

Been looking at a few options such as JB4, COBB it my local tuner who specialises in BMs and has done a few of my cars and recently mapped my mates 335 with awesome results.

So be looking at all options once I'm at that stage, but think I like the sound of the JB4 the most

[Hibbyfor]

Originally Posted by W3rye

Just been talking to a few lads on a 335i/n54 page on Facebook and they've recommended buying the Chinese TD04L 17t billet types. As a few lads on there have them and seem reliable but not actually heard off any directly about them

Has anyone got these installed on their car on here? Or know of anyone running them? And could recommend them.

The lads on the page have said that they are essentially the Vargas VTT turbos but with their logo ground off, as the VTT ones get built in China anyway? Just these are essentially half the price.
Wondering if anyone thinks they are worth the risk buying and installing for the price? Or do I just bite the bullet and go for Rob Beck or VTT or pure turbos?

Link below

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F123412764720

Those aren't the same as GC Lites or GC's, the manifold and the turbine housing look as if they're cast as one part where the GC's are both connected by a v band. The casting actually looks pretty rough. You'll need inlets which are limited when you're RHD, catless DP's, bigger intercooler and piping and probably a stage 2 fuel pump just to be safe along with tuning. It all adds up so I'd be inclined to get a reputable set of turbos from the start.

[748adam]

I will have a set of VRSF silicone intakes for sale very soon

[W3rye]

Originally Posted by Hibbyfor

Those aren't the same as GC Lites or GC's, the manifold and the turbine housing look as if they're cast as one part where the GC's are both connected by a v band. The casting actually looks pretty rough. You'll need inlets which are limited when you're RHD, catless DP's, bigger intercooler and piping and probably a stage 2 fuel pump just to be safe along with tuning. It all adds up so I'd be inclined to get a reputable set of turbos from the start.

I had a look at the mani on them aswell and they certainly look cast as one part so doubted what people were telling me also.

Just found this bespoke tuning company on Facebook aswell who have recently posted updates about some N54 development and look like they're wanting to develop them further by comments on their posts so could be an option....reasonably priced too.
Look very much like GC lites with them being removable from the manifolds. Very handy option.
http://www.bespoketuning.co.uk/produ...age-3-700-bhp/

I was already going to replace the inlets for silicones anyway. But just waiting to see what turbos I get so if I need standard size or 2" inlets.

Currently talking to an American company who are making some aluminium outlets for a RHD car and staying in the loop for their development and figures off them to replace the restrictive OEM ones.

Already got catless Evolve 3" downpipes and mocked them up on the car tonight before I take the turbos off this week (pic below)

Be ordering intercooler (probably 7" VRSF), charge pipe, oil catch can etc next I would think too.

Car won't be back on the road till next year and once all these new goodies are on anyway so no rush as I still have my 330CD daily too 👍🏼

[W3rye]

Originally Posted by 748adam

I will have a set of VRSF silicone intakes for sale very soon

What size are they? And what price are you thinking? Might save a couple quid instead of paying £200 new lol

[748adam]

Originally Posted by W3rye

What size are they? And what price are you thinking? Might save a couple quid instead of paying £200 new lol

I got mine from mlperformance
https://www.mlperformance.co.uk/collections/bmw-3-series-e92-e93/products/vrsf-oem-location-high-flow-silicone-inlet-intake-kit-n54-07-10-bmw-135i-335i-535i-1m-z4
Think £125 is fair, been fitted for just under a year and done very little mileage

[W3rye]

Originally Posted by 748adam

I got mine from mlperformance
https://www.mlperformance.co.uk/collections/bmw-3-series-e92-e93/products/vrsf-oem-location-high-flow-silicone-inlet-intake-kit-n54-07-10-bmw-135i-335i-535i-1m-z4
Think £125 is fair, been fitted for just under a year and done very little mileage

Originally Posted by 748adam

I got mine from mlperformance
https://www.mlperformance.co.uk/coll...35i-535i-1m-z4
Think £125 is fair, been fitted for just under a year and done very little mileage

Ah nice one bud, once I know what size turbo snouts I'll be getting weather standard or 2" I'll give you a PM then 👍🏼 cheers

[W3rye]

Well that's both turbos off 👍🏼 not too bad once you manage to get the subframe off and get propper access to them

Managed to find out what the issue was on the first turbo...total failure due to the damage it sustained. Rear turbo perfectly fine.
Compressor housing hitting the main body and cracking the casting on it 😳 so turbo is goosed anyway or needing a new CHRA.

Looking at giving bespoke tuning a call, as I like the look of their stage 3 hybrids they do, as they look like the VTT GC lite ones from the US with the manifold and turbo being able to be split from eachother.

Has anyone else used Bespoke Tuning before or heard any good/bad stories?

Pics below of the turbos off and last 3 showing the cracked turbo casting on the front turbo 🙈

[748adam]

OUCH! thats a pretty spectacular failure. Did you take the steering rack off the car to get the subframe off?

[DrewM.]

The way I found out about the Bespoke tuning offering was a guy who uses an M3 (M3Cutter) forum I used to use when I had my M3's, and still pop it from time to time, had bespoke tuning turbo's fitted to a n54 powered 135i, from the threads I followed of his, he used the 135i on track quite a lot, I guess track work would expose any weaknesses in the turbo's.

Maybe join M3cutter or BabyBMW (another forum he posts on) and send him a PM, his user name is Dino.

[W3rye]

Originally Posted by 748adam

OUCH! thats a pretty spectacular failure. Did you take the steering rack off the car to get the subframe off?

Yeah buddy, full thing out. Steering rack, ARB, subframe, engine mounts 😅
No other way around it unfortunately

[W3rye]

Originally Posted by DrewM.

The way I found out about the Bespoke tuning offering was a guy who uses an M3 (M3Cutter) forum I used to use when I had my M3's, and still pop it from time to time, had bespoke tuning turbo's fitted to a n54 powered 135i, from the threads I followed of his, he used the 135i on track quite a lot, I guess track work would expose any weaknesses in the turbo's.

Maybe join M3cutter or BabyBMW (another forum he posts on) and send him a PM, his user name is Dino.

Spot on mate I'll search cutters too. Didn't even think to check cutters. Not logged in since I had my Z4M coupe so have to remember my password again.

Thanks 👍🏼

[748adam]

Some hybrids have just been advertised in the classified sections