Which years to buy for head/block cores?

doublespaces

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I've got a 2009 335, am considering picking up an engine for a potential build in the future. Is there a difference in the head/block throughout the years the N54 was produced? Best/cheapest way to go? I'm looking on car-part but I don't want to buy a working engine, just one that can be reconditioned with upgrades.
 

AD-ENG

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2/09+ is 6 Bolt crank. Other than that you'll want lower mileage cores to keep the parts list down on the head.

Everything in the shortblock gets replaced, so no issue there
 
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doublespaces

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2/09+ is 6 Bolt crank. Other than that you'll want lower mileage cores to keep the parts list down on the head.

Everything in the shortblock gets replaced, so no issue there

Is there any variance on the head? Or just minimizing miles?

My car is a 2009 but door jam date is 10/08. So I'm 8 bolt then?
 

Flinchy

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Nov 5, 2016
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Blocks are the same. I recently just built a 08 block with a new 6 Bolt crank for a 2011 1M... all the same.
You can replace cranks?!

For some reason I thought block+bedplate would be really costly to match to a new crank

This is good info!
 

AD-ENG

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I have seen a thread about a change in the water cooling jacket through the block and head but I don't remember where

I'm not sure, but even if that were true the head gasket is the same part # for are n54 years. Plus, you'll be buying a Longblock core so it will match regardless.
 

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You can replace cranks?!

For some reason I thought block+bedplate would be really costly to match to a new crank

This is good info!

Why would you not be able to replace a crank? Line bore is the same and crank journals are the same. Buy the appropriate bearings, check clearance, and good to go.
 

V8bait

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I believe in 09 they had minor changes to the block, dealing with the water jacket as stated earlier. They removed some material around the top of the cylinder liners iirc, there are pictures floating around of the differences. I wouldn't really worry about those differences though, they haven't proven to be an improvement or a detriment. The early year N54's have been generally regarded as slightly better built, but those claims are all unsubstantiated and if you're building they are unimportant anyway.
 
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Alex@abrhouston

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For all intents and purposes, cranks and bearings should stay with the block.

Bearings have 25? Variations for the main bearings. 6 for the top/bottom rod bearings.

I've said this multiple times. These are not a standard easy-peasy engine to assemble and make right......and the bottom ends go stupid when you unbolt the bedplate.
 

veer90

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I have this wild-ass guess that the pistons changed from forged to cast when the engine changed from an 8-bolt to a 6-bolt crank. however I don't have any concrete evidence to back that up. It's only a theory. My thoughts are since it's a parts revision, in addition to the endless debates whether the oem N54 pistons are cast or forged, with supporting evidence on both ends.

To answer OP's question, if I wanted to build some crazy high powered N54 I would probably pick up an '07 or '08. BMW overbuilt the internals intentionally because the N54 was their first turbo production engine in a long while, and they didn't want anything to break. The way I see it there's always the possibility they revised it with more cost-effective (read: weaker) parts down the line.
 

AD-ENG

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Oct 22, 2016
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I have this wild-ass guess that the pistons changed from forged to cast when the engine changed from an 8-bolt to a 6-bolt crank. however I don't have any concrete evidence to back that up. It's only a theory. My thoughts are since it's a parts revision, in addition to the endless debates whether the oem N54 pistons are cast or forged, with supporting evidence on both ends.

To answer OP's question, if I wanted to build some crazy high powered N54 I would probably pick up an '07 or '08. BMW overbuilt the internals intentionally because the N54 was their first turbo production engine in a long while, and they didn't want anything to break. The way I see it there's always the possibility they revised it with more cost-effective (read: weaker) parts down the line.

All n54s I've opened have had cast pistons. Never seen an oem forged piston in a n54.
 

Alex@abrhouston

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Oct 25, 2016
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I have this wild-ass guess that the pistons changed from forged to cast when the engine changed from an 8-bolt to a 6-bolt crank. however I don't have any concrete evidence to back that up. It's only a theory. My thoughts are since it's a parts revision, in addition to the endless debates whether the oem N54 pistons are cast or forged, with supporting evidence on both ends.

To answer OP's question, if I wanted to build some crazy high powered N54 I would probably pick up an '07 or '08. BMW overbuilt the internals intentionally because the N54 was their first turbo production engine in a long while, and they didn't want anything to break. The way I see it there's always the possibility they revised it with more cost-effective (read: weaker) parts down the line.



......and the forged piston rumors fly again.

They never had forged pistons. Ever.