N55 swaps/interchangability

[notijer]

My 2012 M135i (N55B30) just seized yesterday.... suspect i spun the bearings.
Can anyone please help confirm if the N55B30 is interchangeable with the N55B30O0?

N55B30
Applications:
2011–2018 F06/F12/F13 640i[13]
2012–2013 E82/E88 135is[14]
2012–2015 F20/F21 M135i[15][16]
2012–2015 F01 740i/Li

N55B30O0
Applications:
2013–2016 F22/F23 M235i
2015–2016 F20/F21 M135i LCI

 

[Bnks334]

YES you can. I'm in the middle of swapping a '15 N55 335 AWD into my '11 335i xDrive because I spun a rod bearing. Its not that big of a deal. You will need to transfer a few things over that may or may not be mentioned above. As of the end 2/2012, the N55 switched to the Bosch Fuel Pump. Still, a N55 block is a N55 block!
PARTS requiring a SWAP:
Turbofold (lower mounting bracket)
Wiring Harness
DME
Vacuum Pump
HPFP
Fuel Rail
Valve Cover
Vibration Damper
Engine Brackets which bolt to the sub-frame motor mounts

Any chance you have a new style vacuum pump laying around? Would it be possible to just swap the back half of the vacuum pump instead of the entire thing? Would save a bunch of work for me with what I am trying to do... Looks like the front half of the vacuum pump is the same and it's the back half that mates to the HPFP that is different (hpfp mount is different and new style doesn't have the vacuum port since it's EWG).

 

[Duloosh]

The N54 tensioner plus N54 belt is the fix...no spacing was needed thankfully.

So you installed N54 crank in N55 block. Used N54 dampener, pulley and belts and this worked with no issues?

 

[f30giovanni]

Any more info on your swap, im trying to swap a 2015 335xi motor into my 2013 335xi, and wanted to know if there was anything else involved?

did you do this?

 

[empozer]

It’s doable.

 

[empozer]

yes (still a work in progress). Mistakes are costly

 

[f30giovanni]

yes (still a work in progress). Mistakes are costly

Are you doing the installation of the new engine yourself ? I’m planning on having a good shop do this for me. I have a 2013 bmw 335i F series with PWG turbo and I’m wondering if an m235i engine will work. And what mistakes have you made that has cost you $?

 

[empozer]

Are you doing the installation of the new engine yourself ? I’m planning on having a good shop do this for me. I have a 2013 bmw 335i F series with PWG turbo and I’m wondering if an m235i engine will work. And what mistakes have you made that has cost you $?

f30 ,
…feel free to message me.

 

[empozer]

f30 ,
…feel free to message me.

I’m searching through my files, nothing helps jog your memory like a credit card statement.

 

[houtan]

Looking forward to the information. This will help a lot of people in the future.

 

[empozer]

Looking forward to the information. This will help a lot of people in the future.

Old friend, I’m counting on your expertise. Message me when you get a chance.

 

[houtan]

Old friend, I’m counting on your expertise. Message me when you get a chance.

I can message you but I don’t have much experience in this area. I am learning from reading all of the posts.

 

[empozer]

I can message you but I don’t have much experience in this area. I am learning from reading all of the posts.

I spent three hours last night researching. Unable to find any information on “several other “unspecified” minor mechanical differences.” This scares the hell out of me.
I told f30giovani that I lack the requisite expertise to answer his questions.
You are tight with Ken. Didn’t he send his motor to be built by a firm in Texas?

 

[jooobie]

yes (still a work in progress). Mistakes are costly

Are you finished with your swap?

 

[jooobie]

Any chance you have a new style vacuum pump laying around? Would it be possible to just swap the back half of the vacuum pump instead of the entire thing? Would save a bunch of work for me with what I am trying to do... Looks like the front half of the vacuum pump is the same and it's the back half that mates to the HPFP that is different (hpfp mount is different and new style doesn't have the vacuum port since it's EWG).

I'm getting ready to do my swap. I have a 2013 x5 n55 engine I'm getting to ready to swap into my 2011 535 that had the older n54 hpfp pump. Does anyone know what I need to make the 2013 engines work in my vehicle? Can I just swap the DME over from the x5 or is there something else I need to do? Sorry this is my first time swapping any type of engine.

 

[houtan]

I'm getting ready to do my swap. I have a 2013 x5 n55 engine I'm getting to ready to swap into my 2011 535 that had the older n54 hpfp pump. Does anyone know what I need to make the 2013 engines work in my vehicle? Can I just swap the DME over from the x5 or is there something else I need to do? Sorry this is my first time swapping any type of engine.

Did you finish the install?

 

[Collu]

I've found this thread to be one of the most helpful I've found. Following that, my project is consisting of swapping out an N20 for a N55



I have a 2015 F31 series wagon.
Donor car was a 2011 135i.
In order to save me a lotta headache, was simply wondering if it was possible to use an ecu from a 2015 n55... after some necessary tuning. If it does so happen to be considered "doable" it would save me a lot of headache. The CAS system was severely damaged, not too sure if it's salvageable.

Short & simple, can I use an ecu off of a 2015 n55 on a 2011 n55?

 

[wheela]

Short & simple, can I use an ecu off of a 2015 n55 on a 2011 n55?

Sounds like a cool project. Definately out of my realm of knowledge, but I can add that date may not be specific enough. Do you know when F-series n55 switched to electronic wastegate? My 2015 e84 n55 is pneumatic wastegate, but I thought F-chassis n55 may have switched to electronic wastegate before then? Also, fuel pump style - I'm not sure, but I think the n55's from a 2011 135i may still have had the old n54 style hpfp vs. the newer style hpfp used on later n55's. Both of those factors could be complications for ecu swap.

 

[Collu]

Sounds like a cool project. Definately out of my realm of knowledge, but I can add that date may not be specific enough. Do you know when F-series n55 switched to electronic wastegate? My 2015 e84 n55 is pneumatic wastegate, but I thought F-chassis n55 may have switched to electronic wastegate before then? Also, fuel pump style - I'm not sure, but I think the n55's from a 2011 135i may still have had the old n54 style hpfp vs. the newer style hpfp used on later n55's. Both of those factors could be complications for ecu swap.




Lil bit more precise info, the engine block is stamped as a N55B30A. & the vin sticker lists it as an E82 series (Hope that helps)
HPFP overdrive unit - http://spoolperformance.us/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=71
I believe it was originally pneumatic system. The previous owner had a stage 2 Borgwarner with Pure internals. Along with an HPFP overdrive kit. For tuning purposes, if I could get around the tuning issue by simply getting my hands on a EWG turbo, I'll do so for sure. StraightSixAuto informed me that they use different turbos (PWG, EWG I assume), vacuum pump, and fuel pump. Other than that, not too sure of any other changes I'd have to make to avoid issues with a newer ecu. As it was previously stated in this thread.. "an N55 is still an N55" haha.

 

[wheela]

Did your donor n55 not come with the ecu? If they had the spool performance overdrive, then it's definately the older n54 style hpfp. I'm not sure if an ecu from an n55 with the newer style hpfp will properly control the older style hpfp? Hopefully somebody can chime in.

The different modules in the car all need to communicate, so i'm not sure what coding (if any) you may need to do when swapping engine/dme (I know zilch about coding). I know there are people who've done it, hopefully some will read this and chime in. If your donor n55 has the dme, that may be the most straight forward, but I suspect even then coding may still be required.