In early model BMW's, such as our favorite E30 M3, engine timing adjustments had to be done by hand with a special tool. The crankshaft was responsible for spinning gears which spins the cams which controls timing. Because of this, you were limited to either low end torque or high end power, but it was very difficult to design a crankshaft that provided both. So tuners would … [Read more...] about BMW Vanos System: Problems, Symptoms, and Repairs
What is BMW TwinPower Turbo? TwinPower vs. Twin Turbo
BMW TwinPower Turbo – How It Works BMW’s “TwinPower Turbo” designation has created some confusion, and even lawsuits accusing BMW of false advertising. This is because TwinPower Turbo does not necessarily mean the engine is truly twin turbo; it is simply a twin-scroll single turbocharger. Albeit, a twin-scroll turbo is a more efficient design than a single scroll turbo. To … [Read more...] about What is BMW TwinPower Turbo? TwinPower vs. Twin Turbo
BMW N54 vs. N55 vs. B58 vs. S55: Performance & Reliability
BMW N54 vs N55 vs B58 vs S55 Ever since the twin turbo N54 hit the markets in the 2007 BMW 335i, BMW has been building on the design of the turbocharged, direct injected inline 6 engine. In 2010, the 335i received the updated N55 engine followed by the B58 in 2016, however, the model was rebranded to the 340i. Unsurprisingly, the success of the turbocharged inline 6 led to its … [Read more...] about BMW N54 vs. N55 vs. B58 vs. S55: Performance & Reliability
The 7 Most Common BMW N52 Engine Problems
BMW's N52 engine is one of its most successful, and most produced inline-6 engines. The N52 was predominately found in the E90 325i, 328i and 330i, and the E60 525i and 528i models, as well as various others such as the 128i, X1, and Z4 to name a few. The N52 was produced from 2004 up until 2015 when it was replaced by the turbocharged N20 engine. It is the successor to the M54 … [Read more...] about The 7 Most Common BMW N52 Engine Problems
BMW N20 Common Problems & Reliability Issues
The BMW N20 is a 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine produced from 2011-2017, and was BMW’s replacement for the naturally aspirated 3.0L 6-cylinder N52/N53 engines. As the outgoing N52 and N53 were reliable engines, the BMW N20 had big shoes to fill, especially given its turbocharged design. Turbo engines are more complex and require several additional components, which means there … [Read more...] about BMW N20 Common Problems & Reliability Issues