[watoowatoo]

I used to drive 525i with N52 engine, it didn't have as much power but was very happy and smooth to rev high.

N54 has alot of power but doesn't feel as free-revving. My illusion only?

Is N55 different in this aspect because of Valvetronic ...?

Let me know what do you think, Thanks!

[D.yi]

NA's are smoother than turbo cars... its always going to be like that... especially bmw na i6's.

[AKbmw]

went from a 335 to a 6mt 328, much funner to drive! miss the power of the twin turbo's like crazy tough

edit: only reason why its funner to drive is because its a 6mt, had my 335 been 6mt then it would have probably been a whole different ball game

[IancoleTX]

Have only ever had n/a cars, so I don't know the intoxication of boost yet (purposely).. but I can say that the N52 loves to sing. What an awesome engine.

[galahad05]

Nah the N54 will rev like crazy, in or out of gear. I always have to watch it or I'll hit redline in no time flat.

[cstavaru]

You have an X6 as I read from your signature. Of course the N54 is not really free revving in a 2.5 ton car

[TheRox]

Originally Posted by watoowatoo

I used to drive 525i with N52 engine, it didn't have as much power but was very happy and smooth to rev high.

N54 has alot of power but doesn't feel as free-revving. My illusion only?

Is N55 different in this aspect because of Valvetronic ...?

Let me know what do you think, Thanks!

Yea, I'd prefer actually having a V8 AWD 335, NA -- m3 isn't awd and I dislike audi.

but what you gonna do? Thems the breaks...the twin tubo is def not as smooth or as connected or as free revving as the NA engine of a 120 HP accord or a 328 bmw.

For a turbo motor tho, n54 is very good.
But thats the way they make 'em.

[D.yi]

Originally Posted by AKbmw

went from a 335 to a 6mt 328, much funner to drive! miss the power of the twin turbo's like crazy tough

edit: only reason why its funner to drive is because its a 6mt, had my 335 been 6mt then it would have probably been a whole different ball game

(More Fun)

[marcel b]

compare the N54 to a S54 or S65. There is a big difference in reving. The S54 begs to be reved and I was driving it a lot in the 6500-8000RPM range, also in 4th gear. With the N54 I do not have this, I am not really often hitting the limiter, normally shifting at 6500. But this is indeed normal with turbo charged cars. For a charged engine it reves really well. I love the low end grunt the engine has!

[galahad05]

For turbo cars, it's all about where the boost is. The turbos on the N54 are set up to de-boost (is that a word?) in the upper upper RPMs. Thus your power peak at 6000 and change. That's why you shift around 6500 or so instead of redline. If the DME was holding boost to 7000+ RPM, I guarantee you the thing would be revving like mad at the upper registers.

Oh, and everyone saying the n54 rev nature not quite matching the n52 is probably right--it's not the turbos, it's the flywheel. And maybe a little bit the valvetrain.

[jibaholic101]

turbo cars dont rev.

the power is in the lower RPM range

[galahad05]

^tell that to an Evo IX owner.

[Javier]

well i think my N54 revs faster than the n52 in my 328i.. or is it just me?

[Ti335]

Originally Posted by watoowatoo

I used to drive 525i with N52 engine, it didn't have as much power but was very happy and smooth to rev high.

N54 has alot of power but doesn't feel as free-revving. My illusion only?

Is N55 different in this aspect because of Valvetronic ...?

Let me know what do you think, Thanks!

I have a 335i and E53 X5 3.0i. In the past, I also had an E46 325i and E60 525i. I find the N54 engine to be just as free revving and smooth as the NA engines in the other three cars. The only difference is that there are so few instances where you can redline the 335i without plowing into the traffic in front on you or risking a ticket.

N54 is truly a great engine. There's ample torque in every gear - including 6th - and virtually no turbo lag. In fact, give this car to someone who is not familiar with BMWs and he would never be able to tell that it's a turbo.

[Thud]

I think it's more of a subjective feel kind of thing. The N54 has more torque throughout the rpm range but it drops off noticeably after 5500rpm. Even though it's still making more power at that point than the N52, the butt dyno says the engine gave up because a higher HP curve that's dropping off doesn't feel as fast as a lower HP curve that's climbing up.

The N52 (like most small displacement NA engines) really comes into its powerband higher in the range, so you feel "rewarded" for letting the engine really spool up.
I was driving a 328 loaner earlier this week and the motor's eagerness surprised me at times when it downshifted and really spooled up for passing. In my 135i, I wouldn't have downshifted to pass, so it was a different feeling.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by AKbmw

went from a 335 to a 6mt 328, much funner to drive! miss the power of the twin turbo's like crazy tough

edit: only reason why its funner to drive is because its a 6mt, had my 335 been 6mt then it would have probably been a whole different ball game

LOL so this is really a comparison about MT vs Auto and not about the engines

[AKbmw]

Originally Posted by JPSlick

LOL so this is really a comparison about MT vs Auto and not about the engines

lol pretty much, sorry im just sad i lost my turbos

[watoowatoo]

Originally Posted by cstavaru

You have an X6 as I read from your signature. Of course the N54 is not really free revving in a 2.5 ton car

I am sure that weight has something to do with it!

But the comments explained it pretty well, the boost from the turbos has changed the feel of the rev range. So I expect the new N55 even with Valvetronic & ... feel the same way.
6MT with N52 was great fun and so is the ready power of TT. Just great engines!