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      03-08-2019, 03:46 PM   #1
.2pdk
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N55 reliability...

Just curious about the N55 reliability in the M2 so far.

Any known major issues?

My mechanic told me of some older N55s seizing up (spun rod bearings).
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      03-08-2019, 03:59 PM   #2
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I doubt we'll know for a little while since there probably aren't too many past 75-100k, but every tech I've asked has said that they feel the N55 is among the more reliable modern BMW engines. Gotta factor in low sample size and subjectivity of the tech's, but that's what I've been told.

I think in the next few year's we'll start to see where it stands long term as the 16/17's start to rise in mileage.
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      03-08-2019, 04:39 PM   #3
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2018 M2 DCT 52K HARD miles, 35K+ on BM3 Race Gas Tune, 15K+ with Dinan Turbo

ZERO issues, all maintenance done by me except for the free oil changes, I beat the ever living snot out of her daily.
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      03-08-2019, 04:40 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M-Supra View Post
2018 M2 DCT 52K HARD miles, 35K+ on BM3 Race Gas Tune, 15K+ with Dinan Turbo

ZERO issues, all maintenance done by me except for the free oil changes, I beat the ever living snot out of her daily.
Bless you...
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      03-08-2019, 04:44 PM   #5
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Bless you...
My pleasure kind sir
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      03-08-2019, 04:46 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nosbocaj View Post
I think in the next few year's we'll start to see where it stands long term as the 16/17's start to rise in mileage.
Agreed, guess I'm too early as the documented cases are older models.

However, isn't the N55 in the M2s the same as in the previous 3/4 models, just tuned differently?
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      03-08-2019, 04:59 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M-Supra View Post
2018 M2 DCT 52K HARD miles, 35K+ on BM3 Race Gas Tune, 15K+ with Dinan Turbo

ZERO issues, all maintenance done by me except for the free oil changes, I beat the ever living snot out of her daily.
Too bad S55 cant claim the same
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      03-08-2019, 05:01 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by .2pdk View Post
Agreed, guess I'm too early as the documented cases are older models.

However, isn't the N55 in the M2s the same as in the previous 3/4 models, just tuned differently?
IIRC, it's more like a S55 block and bottom end with a N55 head.

Last edited by Anthony1s; 03-08-2019 at 05:09 PM..
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      03-08-2019, 05:03 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by .2pdk View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by nosbocaj View Post
I think in the next few year's we'll start to see where it stands long term as the 16/17's start to rise in mileage.
Agreed, guess I'm too early as the documented cases are older models.

However, isn't the N55 in the M2s the same as in the previous 3/4 models, just tuned differently?
Yes the N55 is one of their most reliable engines and it has stood the test of time in many of their other cars such as the X3 etc... however, time will tell what the higher performance tune/boost and probably harder driving of the M2 will do to that reliability.
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      03-08-2019, 05:07 PM   #10
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How many cases have there been before when M division have put non bespoke M engine in M cars that have ended up having serious integral/structural issues?
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      03-08-2019, 05:12 PM   #11
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Well, for a BMW, I'd say N55 is one of the more reliable turbo engines. They made so many of them, if there were widespread problems we'd probably already know by now.
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      03-08-2019, 05:32 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GoneIn4Secs View Post
How many cases have there been before when M division have put non bespoke M engine in M cars that have ended up having serious integral/structural issues?
I might be wrong but I believe that the 1M and M2 are the only M models that came an N designated engine. Small sample size.
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      03-08-2019, 05:36 PM   #13
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I might be wrong but I believe that the 1M and M2 are the only M models that came an N designated engine. Small sample size.
Yup, had a 1M up until last year, 35k on it and bulletproof.

It was just that my tech guy at BMW told me this morning he has now seen 3 N55 come in over the last 4 months due to seizing.

Older models, 2011 and 2013 I believe...
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      03-08-2019, 05:36 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by GoneIn4Secs View Post
Too bad S55 cant claim the same
Isn't it reliable?
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      03-08-2019, 05:37 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by .2pdk View Post
Yup, had a 1M up until last year, 35k on it and bulletproof.

It was just that my tech guy at BMW told me this morning he has now seen 3 N55 come in over the last 4 months due to seizing.

Older models, 2011 and 2013 I believe...
Ouch. Hopefully in 2022 mine will keep on trucking. If not, then hopefully an engine replacement will be affordable, lol!
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      03-08-2019, 05:55 PM   #16
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Huh how can they seize like that ? No oil.changes?
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      03-08-2019, 06:02 PM   #17
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Huh how can they seize like that ? No oil.changes?
I believe spun bearings or some such thing...he works at Budds's in Oakville, head tech.
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      03-08-2019, 06:48 PM   #18
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On the 2 series forum quite a few posts about coolant hose breaking around 50-55k miles. I would preemptively change that
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      03-08-2019, 07:00 PM   #19
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If you're buying a German car chances are reliability isn't #1 on your list.
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      03-08-2019, 07:26 PM   #20
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Quote:
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Isn't it reliable?
The S55 is fine. He's trolling.
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      03-08-2019, 07:30 PM   #21
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S55 is a more complex engine with double the turbos and more hoses, coolers, etc so naturally it has a higher probability to be less reliable than the N55.
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      03-08-2019, 07:42 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heavyD^2 View Post
S55 is a more complex engine with double the turbos and more hoses, coolers, etc so naturally it has a higher probability to be less reliable than the N55.
I guess you could say that. I haven't seen anything disturbing about the S55 from the M3/M4 forums. The exact same S55 engine has been reliable in those cars since 2014. They have reduced the incidence of spun crank hub as well. Most of them happened to modded cars that have the DCT. Many of them had aggressive shifting software flashed on their DCTs as well as a tune. Now if you are talking about 10 years and 180k miles of wear and tear then yeah there are more hoses to replace. The N55 and S55 are both complex turbo engines and both have long term maintenance risks.
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