N55 M135i/m235i turbo removal

[skypeller]

Hi
Has anybody any experience with removing a turbo/manifold from one of these yet using good variety of home tools and a good set of diy ramps? Is it a drop the subframe job or a wiggle it out from the side sort of affair? I read somewhere bmw tilt the engine off its mount to do it but might have been hear say. Car is out of warranty and has wastegate rattle, adjusting the actuator has quietened it but the pivot for the wastegate has noticeable play, I’m sure it’s meant to have some for thermal expansion but this feels quite loose.

Anybody?

Cheers

[Andy70]

Hi there, I have an n54 and my turbos may need some attention one day, I know its a different set up to a point but am I right in saying the dynamics of the engine set up would be the same? if so I believe its quite a job to take them (or it) out, I have been informed for mine the sub frame does need to be removed and my mechanic looked up the job time and says its supposed to be a 9 hour job, although I do find that hard to believe as he dropped the subframe on my old 330i a while ago and had the oil sump out etc and that was only a few hours. So is it really that much more work? I'm not a mechanic nor have much knowledge of such things but its what I have researched. My wastegates rattle a bit so will get it sorted one day, but if it is a big job, id get mine reconditioned I think so they are as good as new while they are out

[aeropilot]

Andy70 said:

Hi there, I have an n54 and my turbos may need some attention one day, I know its a different set up to a point but am I right in saying the dynamics of the engine set up would be the same? if so I believe its quite a job to take them (or it) out, I have been informed for mine the sub frame does need to be removed and my mechanic looked up the job time and says its supposed to be a 9 hour job, although I do find that hard to believe as he dropped the subframe on my old 330i a while ago and had the oil sump out etc and that was only a few hours. So is it really that much more work?

Its 9 hrs on a N54 because its an engine out job to remove both of the turbo's.

It can be done without removing the engine, but it actually takes even longer that way, but could be cheaper if done at an indie if their labour rates are considerably less than BMW dealer.

[aeropilot]

skypeller said:

Hi
Has anybody any experience with removing a turbo/manifold from one of these yet using good variety of home tools and a good set of diy ramps? Is it a drop the subframe job or a wiggle it out from the side sort of affair? I read somewhere bmw tilt the engine off its mount to do it but might have been hear say. Car is out of warranty and has wastegate rattle, adjusting the actuator has quietened it but the pivot for the wastegate has noticeable play

Not really heard of such a problem with the single turbo on the N55.....

Have you had a search on BabyBMW forum here....?

https://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=74

If anyone knows, it will be someone on there?

[Andy70]

aeropilot said:

Andy70 said:

Hi there, I have an n54 and my turbos may need some attention one day, I know its a different set up to a point but am I right in saying the dynamics of the engine set up would be the same? if so I believe its quite a job to take them (or it) out, I have been informed for mine the sub frame does need to be removed and my mechanic looked up the job time and says its supposed to be a 9 hour job, although I do find that hard to believe as he dropped the subframe on my old 330i a while ago and had the oil sump out etc and that was only a few hours. So is it really that much more work?

Its 9 hrs on a N54 because its an engine out job to remove both of the turbo's.

It can be done without removing the engine, but it actually takes even longer that way, but could be cheaper if done at an indie if their labour rates are considerably less than BMW dealer.

ok wow, why does the engine need to come out? there is a company in Nuneaton that will take turbos out, refurb them for 900 quid, all that work for that price?
My guy is £40 quid an hour so his rates are not too bad.

[aeropilot]

Andy70 said:

aeropilot said:

Andy70 said:

Hi there, I have an n54 and my turbos may need some attention one day, I know its a different set up to a point but am I right in saying the dynamics of the engine set up would be the same? if so I believe its quite a job to take them (or it) out, I have been informed for mine the sub frame does need to be removed and my mechanic looked up the job time and says its supposed to be a 9 hour job, although I do find that hard to believe as he dropped the subframe on my old 330i a while ago and had the oil sump out etc and that was only a few hours. So is it really that much more work?

Its 9 hrs on a N54 because its an engine out job to remove both of the turbo's.

It can be done without removing the engine, but it actually takes even longer that way, but could be cheaper if done at an indie if their labour rates are considerably less than BMW dealer.

ok wow, why does the engine need to come out?

On a E83 N54 135i, there's no way of getting the rear turbo out other than pulling the whole engine, and then easily doing it on the bench, which is the BMW workshop method, hence the 9 hrs.....
Or doing it by removing other things, like as you say dropping the whole front subframe/suspension etc, although I've not heard of that method being used on a E82, but maybe can be done that way on a E9* 3 series or later F** 1/2/3 series cars?