[mylydiamy]

I took a loaner 2010 335i with n55 engine couple of days ago when I took my car for service. I have to say that I am impressed with N55 engine. Although both engine are identical on paper in terms of output, N55 felt a lot smoother, much less turbo lag and more powerful.

Am I the only one who feels this way???

[serg1282]

Opinions have generally been mixed; it's pretty subjective.

[tizzyd]

dude, the 2010 335is still had the n54.....maybe it felt faster than yours because of updated programming?

[Got_da_booze]

I just had a 2011 335i e90 loaner for the past two days. I was not as impressed. It seemed like the engine struggled to get up to the speeds I wanted, and the engine was nosier while doing so. The only thing I was happy having for the two days was navigation, which I currently don't have.

[shockin330i]

[IcebergM4]

Having gone from a 2010 E92 auto to a 2011 E92 6MT, I will admit that (based solely on my experiences with both) that the N55 doesn't feel as fast as the 2010 N54 I owned. The N55 "feels" like it runs out of breath at the top and takes longer to get up to speed, while the N54 felt fast immediately and all around. It may only appear this way because the Valvetronic makes this motor so smooth that it feels like it has much less power. IMO the new motor feels slightly more laggy when at lower speeds. Even though I wish the single turbo was a little bigger (GT35R maybe), a larger size would provide greater lag.

[Vector Pilot]

Originally Posted by Got_da_booze

I just had a 2011 335i e90 loaner for the past two days. I was not as impressed. It seemed like the engine struggled to get up to the speeds I wanted, and the engine was nosier while doing so. The only thing I was happy having for the two days was navigation, which I currently don't have.

How fast did you want go? I drove out of the Welt in my N55 E92 335i onto autobahn and immediately had it up 140+ without a struggle and it was willing to continue beyond that point.

[jeremicium]

Wasn't there a recent comparo where the N54 was a hair faster to 60...and in the quarter mile...but the N55 ran away from the N54 from 100 to 140.

Originally Posted by Iceberg3

Having gone from a 2010 E92 auto to a 2011 E92 6MT, I will admit that (based solely on my experiences with both) that the N55 doesn't feel as fast as the 2010 N54 I owned. The N55 "feels" like it runs out of breath at the top and takes longer to get up to speed, while the N54 felt fast immediately and all around. It may only appear this way because the Valvetronic makes this motor so smooth that it feels like it has much less power. IMO the new motor feels slightly more laggy when at lower speeds. Even though I wish the single turbo was a little bigger (GT35R maybe), a larger size would provide greater lag.

[Trojan4evr]

Having both of them, I have to say that N55 feels more responsive but due to the gear ratio, N54 covers more ground in lower RPMs. I have noticed on the highway with my 07 335i when I'm on 3k RPM I'm doin 100MPH but with the 135 on the highway and 3k RPM I'm doin 85 to 90MPH. I love 'em both.

[spiike32]

I have a 2011 e90 335i as a loaner as well right now. There are 3 things that I would like to have from it that my 2007 e92 335i does not...

1. Navigation is amazing. Love the screen, love the new lit knob, interphase is nice.
2. Euro headlight switch (which is a $100 swap)
3. LED turn signals are super bright which is nice.

Things I don't like.
1. Turbo is laggy. Maybe its the software maybe manual vs auto.. but there is a slight hesitation. I also noticed the gear ratio. It's definitely a little different. BTW this loaner has less than 2500 miles on it.

I got my e92 for 28k, the window sticker thing is in the glove box and this car lists for 52k. Jeez...

[mylydiamy]

There are a lot mix feelings. But to me, the most noticeable difference was much less turbo lag on N55. Maybe my loaner was one of a kind???

[The J-Man]

Originally Posted by mylydiamy

There are a lot mix feelings. But to me, the most noticeable difference was much less turbo lag on N55. Maybe my loaner was one of a kind???

If your loaner was a 2010, it had the N54 not the N55.

[Budfox27]

I guess the guy doing 140 didn't care about the brake in period. I

[shockin330i]

Originally Posted by Budfox27

I guess the guy doing 140 didn't care about the brake in period. I

What is this break in ur talking about... drive it like you stole it

[Thud]

Originally Posted by mylydiamy

I took a loaner 2010 335i with n55 engine couple of days ago when I took my car for service. I have to say that I am impressed with N55 engine. Although both engine are identical on paper in terms of output, N55 felt a lot smoother, much less turbo lag and more powerful.

Am I the only one who feels this way???

Or maybe something is wrong with your N54? What is it being serviced for?

Particularly since your loaner also had an N54, assuming it was actually a 2010 model....

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by mylydiamy

I took a loaner 2010 335i with n55 engine couple of days ago when I took my car for service. I have to say that I am impressed with N55 engine. Although both engine are identical on paper in terms of output, N55 felt a lot smoother, much less turbo lag and more powerful.

Am I the only one who feels this way???

Yes, you are the only one. Go look at the dyno graphs of both engines stock. N55 has more lag stock. It's a single turbo vs. two smaller ones. The engines are not identical in terms of output, but they are fairly close.

[yitbos1]

Originally Posted by cotmfk

Yes, you are the only one. Go look at the dyno graphs of both engines stock. N55 has more lag stock. It's a single turbo vs. two smaller ones. The engines are not identical in terms of output, but they are fairly close.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but how can you tell if a car has more lag from looking at a dyno graph? Also, everywhere I've seen said there is less lag in the N55 due to the twin scrolls.

[gboop]

Originally Posted by Trojan4evr

Having both of them, I have to say that N55 feels more responsive but due to the gear ratio, N54 covers more ground in lower RPMs. I have noticed on the highway with my 07 335i when I'm on 3k RPM I'm doin 100MPH but with the 135 on the highway and 3k RPM I'm doin 85 to 90MPH. I love 'em both.

You can't really compare a N55 135i to N54 335i. 135i weighs less.

[tizzyd]

I had a 2010 335i with the power kit, and although it felt faster, i like the N55 better. The n55 is more responsive and sounds a hell of a lot better. For everyone who is complaining about it being slower.....get real, its only by .1 or .2 seconds. the car still is making its claimed 300/300 figures so who gives a shit. not to mention i get 22 mpg average where i was getting 18 with my old 335i.

[TheStigsTwin]

People that say their buttometer senses a difference are being influenced by their own desires.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by tizzyd

I had a 2010 335i with the power kit, and although it felt faster, i like the N55 better. The n55 is more responsive and sounds a hell of a lot better. For everyone who is complaining about it being slower.....get real, its only by .1 or .2 seconds. the car still is making its claimed 300/300 figures so who gives a shit. not to mention i get 22 mpg average where i was getting 18 with my old 335i.

I get 23 average mixed on my 07 335I and about 26-28 on highway according to display

[BenTrovato]

Once again... N54 vs N55 is subjective. I've driven both and I notice the difference in both, but I'd be hard pressed to say one is better than the other.