When did the N53 go into the E90 330i?
Discussion
Any good?
http://mywikimotors.com/n53b30/
"This 3-liter engine represents N53 series which also includes N53B25. This motor was firstly introduced in 2007 and replaced 3-liter N52B30 engine."
http://mywikimotors.com/n53b30/
"This 3-liter engine represents N53 series which also includes N53B25. This motor was firstly introduced in 2007 and replaced 3-liter N52B30 engine."
From what I have read if it claims to have 272bhp it's got the N53 engine - N52s seem to have 258bhp in the E90/91 but 265bhp in the E92/93. 
Plus the N52 engines are in Band K for RFL, so 200 to 225 g/km whereas the N53s sneak into a lower band! But the N53 with "Direct Injection" sounds a bit too diesely for my liking, and has the potential injector and HPFP issues although to be fair I have never driven one.
So the quickest way to determine which engine one has is probably to check the CO2 figure on the V5!
Plus the N52 engines are in Band K for RFL, so 200 to 225 g/km whereas the N53s sneak into a lower band! But the N53 with "Direct Injection" sounds a bit too diesely for my liking, and has the potential injector and HPFP issues although to be fair I have never driven one.
So the quickest way to determine which engine one has is probably to check the CO2 figure on the V5!
TroubledSoul said:
Excellent, cheers folks. The reason I was confused is because some of the earlier cars on Auto Trader seem to have been listed as 272bhp cars incorrectly.
That's one thing I really hate with AT!
Yes, I noticed that too when I was browsing for an E92 330i - just didn't want an N53! That's one thing I really hate with AT!
N52 is bullet proof, sounds sweet and is plenty quick enough.
N53 can achieve some incredible MPG figures.
I had an N53 330i for two days when my 335i was in at BMW and I did 500 miles on a tank, which meant it averaged 38mpg, OBC read 41mpg. For a 272hp straight six petrol I thought that was brilliant.
Having said that, I did that same run in my N52 130i the other week and that showed 38mpg too, but that is a manual. My 335i would be 35mpg at best.
N53 can achieve some incredible MPG figures.
I had an N53 330i for two days when my 335i was in at BMW and I did 500 miles on a tank, which meant it averaged 38mpg, OBC read 41mpg. For a 272hp straight six petrol I thought that was brilliant.
Having said that, I did that same run in my N52 130i the other week and that showed 38mpg too, but that is a manual. My 335i would be 35mpg at best.
gizlaroc said:
8<
N53 can achieve some incredible MPG figures.
I had an N53 330i for two days when my 335i was in at BMW and I did 500 miles on a tank, which meant it averaged 38mpg, OBC read 41mpg. For a 272hp straight six petrol I thought that was brilliant.
8<
I've owned my 330i N53 for 4 years, and never got anything like those figures. And I'm no boy racer either. Best I've ever achieved on the OBC was 32mpg after a gentle cruise up the M40 via A3/M25 to the Midlands from S London. Otherwise the OBC average is much closer to 30mpg.N53 can achieve some incredible MPG figures.
I had an N53 330i for two days when my 335i was in at BMW and I did 500 miles on a tank, which meant it averaged 38mpg, OBC read 41mpg. For a 272hp straight six petrol I thought that was brilliant.
8<
RafflesNH said:
I've owned my 330i N53 for 4 years, and never got anything like those figures. And I'm no boy racer either. Best I've ever achieved on the OBC was 32mpg after a gentle cruise up the M40 via A3/M25 to the Midlands from S London. Otherwise the OBC average is much closer to 30mpg.
That was the average on my run from Norwich to Cavendish Square and back home again and then to Solihull and back the next day. Not an overall average, but a steady 75-80mph run.
As I said, I used to get around 34mpg from that run in my 335i.
Do you run 98ron? That I find gives the biggest gains in MPG with BMWs.
I would drop from 29 to 26 average almost immediately on my 335i, the 130i drops from 28 average to 26 average. It also drives me insane when my wife fills it up again with 95 as it take 2-3 tanks to get back again.
I keep trying to explain to her that a 5% saving at the pump in £ is wiped out by the loss in MPG and she just looks at me and shrugs.
Plus you can feel it loses some pep and doesn't sound as sweet either.
The 335i I thought was knackered when she filled up with 95 ron and I didn't know. Took it to the rolling road and it was down 30hp.
bmwmike said:
Funny how engine conversations always seem to end up focusing on MPG!
Well kind of - at least I also mentioned the average speed on my OBC! And I don't care if the N53 may be more economical - I'd still rather have an N52 given a choice, but in an E86 you only get an N52 (or an S54 but that was never going to be in budget)!
RafflesNH said:
I've owned my 330i N53 for 4 years, and never got anything like those figures. And I'm no boy racer either. Best I've ever achieved on the OBC was 32mpg after a gentle cruise up the M40 via A3/M25 to the Midlands from S London. Otherwise the OBC average is much closer to 30mpg.
+1 I also had the fuel injector issue, the whole lot needed replacing + coil packs (and had been done before I got it once before).
To go back to the original question...mine was a 57 plate N53 engine with the pre-LCI body so there are a few out there that cross over.
Go for the N52 IMO.
My brother in law has an E92 coupe registered in January 2008 with an N52 engine yet his other half owns an E93 325 convertible on an 07 plate that's an N53 so I think the changeover depends on the body type as well. The 330i was built in the summer of 2007 though according to one of the BMW vin lookup sites so presumably sat around for a few months before being registered.
Oh and having been owned for about 6 months the N53 stayed true to form and lunched its HPFP a couple of weeks ago which I helped replace. It's a slightly trickier job to do on that engine than the N54 I've done before as the inlet manifold has to come out completely unlike the N54 which turns a 2-3 hour fix into a 4-5 hour fix. It's still DIY-able though if you don't mind weilding a spanner but £600 for the part alone means it's still not a cheap fix.
Oh and having been owned for about 6 months the N53 stayed true to form and lunched its HPFP a couple of weeks ago which I helped replace. It's a slightly trickier job to do on that engine than the N54 I've done before as the inlet manifold has to come out completely unlike the N54 which turns a 2-3 hour fix into a 4-5 hour fix. It's still DIY-able though if you don't mind weilding a spanner but £600 for the part alone means it's still not a cheap fix.
Edited by LocoBlade on Monday 26th June 22:48
My brother in law was initially disappointed when he realised his 330i was an N52 after he'd put the deposit down but having spent £600 and most of the day fixing the other half's 325 I think he's changed his tune. In reality the power increase is marginal and the N52 is reasonably economical anyway, on my 20 mile A and B road commute with a bit of town driving my 130 used to average about 32mpg when just driving normally.
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