135 / 140 ---- 235 / 240

[Driver101]

95JO said:

Dizeee said:

If the N55 is the same engine as the old 135i (11 plate ) then I agree it's pretty top endy.

I have only driven a M135i and an M240i. The power in the 135 felt very accessible and squirty, but, the 240 sounded unbelievable and seemed a lot more torquey.

Nope, 135i = N54 / Mx35i = N55 - The main difference being the N54 is twin-turbo, whereas the N55 in single twin-scroll turbo

The 135i got the N55 after the N54.

[95JO]

Driver101 said:

95JO said:

Dizeee said:

If the N55 is the same engine as the old 135i (11 plate ) then I agree it's pretty top endy.

I have only driven a M135i and an M240i. The power in the 135 felt very accessible and squirty, but, the 240 sounded unbelievable and seemed a lot more torquey.

Nope, 135i = N54 / Mx35i = N55 - The main difference being the N54 is twin-turbo, whereas the N55 in single twin-scroll turbo

The 135i got the N55 after the N54.

Touché - I didn't know that!

Wikipedia said:

From 2007 to 2010, the 135i was powered by the N54 twin-turbo 3.0 litre engine with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. From 2010, the 135i engine was upgraded to the N55 single-turbo 3.0 litre engine with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

[Dizeee]

95JO said:

Nope, 135i = N54 / Mx35i = N55 - The main difference being the N54 is twin-turbo, whereas the N55 in single twin-scroll turbo

But around 2011 the N54 was replaced by the N55 engine, signified by the engine cover saying "turbo power" as opposed to saying nothing (N54). This is in the old, old model. Then there was the model change and the M135i was born.... so when that happened - presumably the initial engine (N55) remained the same for both cars?

[Dizeee]

Replied before reading above posts.

Those graphs look great - so a 240i at around 17k, then remapped, would produce a weapon of a car producing 400 bhp + for not much aggravation?

Amazing

[95JO]

Dizeee said:

Replied before reading above posts.

Those graphs look great - so a 240i at around 17k, then remapped, would produce a weapon of a car producing 400 bhp + for not much aggravation?

Amazing

Indeed - A decat and remap can see up to 450bhp

[HM-2]

95JO said:

Dizeee said:

Replied before reading above posts.

Those graphs look great - so a 240i at around 17k, then remapped, would produce a weapon of a car producing 400 bhp + for not much aggravation?

Amazing

Indeed - A decat and remap can see up to 450bhp

I'd budget for an M-Performance, Quaife or WaveTrac differential and some new suspensions though!

[95JO]

HM-2 said:

I'd budget for an M-Performance, Quaife or WaveTrac differential and some new suspensions though!

+1

[Court_S]

HM-2 said:

I'd budget for an M-Performance, Quaife or WaveTrac differential and some new suspensions though!

I’d do that before chasing more power.

I don’t think the suspension is as bad as the internet makes out, but there is certainly room for improvement.

[HM-2]

It's perfectly fine, but with that engine you kind of want more than just "fine".
Diff is a big investment and you only really see benefits with TC/Stability off- but it does make a huge difference there.

I think they benefit from running wider tyres too- with the right wheel choices and small spacers up front, some people have got away with 245/40 R18 and 265/35 R18 rear. I don't know who at BMW thought putting the same power and 100lb ft more torque than an E46 M3 through a 245 profile rear tyre was a sensible idea...

[Pistonheader101]

The 240i is a huge step up from the 235i - better engine, sounds better with a proper exhaust, more tuning potential, more reliable etc etc.

[Pistonheader101]

95JO said:

Dizeee said:

Replied before reading above posts.

Those graphs look great - so a 240i at around 17k, then remapped, would produce a weapon of a car producing 400 bhp + for not much aggravation?

Amazing

Indeed - A decat and remap can see up to 450bhp

No decat needed, DMS get 450bhp from stock exhaust and remap.

[Driver101]

Pistonheader101 said:

The 240i is a huge step up from the 235i - better engine, sounds better with a proper exhaust, more tuning potential, more reliable etc etc.

Huge step up? That's a huge exaggeration.

It doesn't sound better. You won't get many people to agree with that.

More reliable? The N55 is well known for being reliable with very few issues. We will see in 10 years time how many B58s go the same.

There is also plenty of quick N55s. The issue with throwing too much power at the 1 and 2 series is the car isn't up to it. By the time you spend the money fixing the issues you may as well have bought an M2CP.

[Crackie]

Pistonheader101 said:

95JO said:

Dizeee said:

Replied before reading above posts.

Those graphs look great - so a 240i at around 17k, then remapped, would produce a weapon of a car producing 400 bhp + for not much aggravation?

Amazing

Indeed - A decat and remap can see up to 450bhp

No decat needed, DMS get 450bhp from stock exhaust and remap.

/\ This, no decat needed. Most competent tuners will get a safe 450 not just DMS. Evolve are very good and did my old N54 335i. I'm pretty sure Simon at E-Maps used to run an N55 335i.....possibly he still does. Simon will come to you and does great maps at sensible prices.

A standard stage 1 map at Superchips, with no bolt ons gives 454bhp. https://www.superchips.co.uk/curves/M140iB58340PS.... great value too.

[Court_S]

HM-2 said:

It's perfectly fine, but with that engine you kind of want more than just "fine".
Diff is a big investment and you only really see benefits with TC/Stability off- but it does make a huge difference there.

I think they benefit from running wider tyres too- with the right wheel choices and small spacers up front, some people have got away with 245/40 R18 and 265/35 R18 rear. I don't know who at BMW thought putting the same power and 100lb ft more torque than an E46 M3 through a 245 profile rear tyre was a sensible idea...

Seems nuts that my old 325ti had wider rears and only 195bhp or so to deal with and a shed load less torque. Might go up to a 255 rear when the current tyres are dead.

[Court_S]

Pistonheader101 said:

The 240i is a huge step up from the 235i - better engine, sounds better with a proper exhaust, more tuning potential, more reliable etc etc.

I think the N55 sounds nicer than the B58, especially if like mine you’re lumped with a PPF.

[BFleming]

Dizeee said:

Then there was the model change and the M135i was born.... so when that happened - presumably the initial engine (N55) remained the same for both cars?

Correct - the last of the E8x 135i's and the first of the F2x M135i's / M235's came with the N55., this engine broadly being fitted to those cars from 2010 to 2015.