BMW N20 2.0L 4 Cylinder Turbo Engine Assembly Video - Page 2

Whostheboss · 10-06-2012, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twpenick

This is just fun to watch. I am not a fan of a 4 cylinder engine but this is some great technology. I still love my inline 6.

Why do you like your 6 over a 4?

Remonster · 10-06-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whostheboss

Why do you like your 6 over a 4?

The 6 was a very nice engine, I've had two E90 328is over the years and now we have an F30 with the new turbo 4. The N20 is more powerful and more fuel efficient but it has a little bit of turbo lag and it's quiet, plus it doesn't sound all that great when you can hear it. The N52, on the other hand, was responsive and had a very sweet growl plus it might have been the smoothest engine of all time.

I can definitely understand why someone would prefer either engine over the other, I'm not sure which one I like more to be honest. I think I favor the N20 just because of its surprisingly huge low end torque, the N52 below 4,000RPM feels downright slow in comparison.

red-sauerkraut · 10-07-2012, 09:11 PM

It will never wear out, just so you know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuz5150

Wow! Scary part that I witnessed is when the timing was installed

all that plastic for the chain guides! THAT'S going to be a problem. Especially with those BMW 15k OCA's.....lol

Jamesons Viggen · 10-08-2012, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuz5150

Wow! Scary part that I witnessed is when the timing was installed

all that plastic for the chain guides! THAT'S going to be a problem. Especially with those BMW 15k OCA's.....lol

They have been using plastic in the chain/timing assembly in engines from various manufacturers for years now.

Crisp · 10-08-2012, 12:25 PM

Why would the plastic in the timing assembly be such a concern for wear?

Unless there are huge alignment issues, the chain will not be wearing out any of the plastic. If it is wearing it out, you would have catastrophic problems to worry about, never mind the plastic. lol

Subnasty · 10-09-2012, 04:00 AM

Hey, thanks for sharing – awesome stuff

Although, I have one question. Does anyone know what are the differences between 125i and 328i?
Do they have bigger Turbo’s or intakes, or is it just a different program which pulls more HP. Looking forward to an answer, cheers.

Aries326 · 10-09-2012, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remonster

The 6 was a very nice engine, I've had two E90 328is over the years and now we have an F30 with the new turbo 4. The N20 is more powerful and more fuel efficient but it has a little bit of turbo lag and it's quiet, plus it doesn't sound all that great when you can hear it. The N52, on the other hand, was responsive and had a very sweet growl plus it might have been the smoothest engine of all time.

I can definitely understand why someone would prefer either engine over the other, I'm not sure which one I like more to be honest. I think I favor the N20 just because of its surprisingly huge low end torque, the N52 below 4,000RPM feels downright slow in comparison.

I've got a Z4 3.0si and I love the N52. I agree with what you had to say above.

I had a F30 on loaner when I had the Z4 serviced. Honestly, the N20 didn't feel right. It felt like it wasn't as responsive, didn't have as much power and the sound out of it was too tame. Definitely the F30 is for those who just want a BMW. For a car enthusiast, it might be a disappointment. I don't consider myself a BMW "expert". As someone new to the BMW world, the N20 is a disappointment.

Jamesons Viggen · 10-09-2012, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aries326

I've got a Z4 3.0si and I love the N52. I agree with what you had to say above.

I had a F30 on loaner when I had the Z4 serviced. Honestly, the N20 didn't feel right. It felt like it wasn't as responsive, didn't have as much power and the sound out of it was too tame. Definitely the F30 is for those who just want a BMW. For a car enthusiast, it might be a disappointment. I don't consider myself a BMW "expert". As someone new to the BMW world, the N20 is a disappointment.

I had the opposite experience.

See my loaner was an auto, and that has a lot to do with it.

It was a new N52 E92 coupe.

The engine SOUNDED great. But it was all sound. It had a nice top end surge to it, but again, mostly noise compared to the actual acceleration.

My 6mt N20 though, there is NO friggin sound. That is the disappointment. But meanwhile there is a such a big torque advantage(I dyno'd mine already) that it surges on a wave of tq in almost every gear and from very low RPM.

I find it will be much easier to put some sound into this car(granted it wont sound like a straight 6, I get that by walking to the other garage) than it will be to get tq out of an N52 without FI.

ansonivan · 10-09-2012, 02:20 PM

Looking forward to servicing those engines, especially the weird little 3 cylinder MINI variant.

Aries326 · 10-10-2012, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

I had the opposite experience.

See my loaner was an auto, and that has a lot to do with it.

It was a new N52 E92 coupe.

The engine SOUNDED great. But it was all sound. It had a nice top end surge to it, but again, mostly noise compared to the actual acceleration.

My 6mt N20 though, there is NO friggin sound. That is the disappointment. But meanwhile there is a such a big torque advantage(I dyno'd mine already) that it surges on a wave of tq in almost every gear and from very low RPM.

I find it will be much easier to put some sound into this car(granted it wont sound like a straight 6, I get that by walking to the other garage) than it will be to get tq out of an N52 without FI.

There's a common denominator to our experiences. Auto. My loaner was auto as well. That coupled with no sound probably made the N20 feel like it had a lot less torque than the N52.

Jamesons Viggen · 10-11-2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aries326

There's a common denominator to our experiences. Auto. My loaner was auto as well. That coupled with no sound probably made the N20 feel like it had a lot less torque than the N52.

I now have a prototype exhaust on my car. Really happy with the sound, also hear the turbo spool more.

Also, make sure when you have an F30 in your hands it's not in COMFORT mode. It makes the car feel like the gas pedal is in molasses.

Remonster · 10-18-2012, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aries326

There's a common denominator to our experiences. Auto. My loaner was auto as well. That coupled with no sound probably made the N20 feel like it had a lot less torque than the N52.

Maybe you're just used to the responsiveness of an N/A motor? I came out of a 135i and now drive a 335is and I still think my brother's 328i (N20) feels plenty powerful, 260lb/ft from just off idle is quite a lot out of a 2 liter but you definitely do sit around waiting for the turbo to spool.

By contrast, I go to our other garage and get into the 2011 328i (N52) and am bored to death by how slow it is in the midrange (but god does it growl when you put your foot down).

Jamesons Viggen · 10-18-2012, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remonster

Maybe you're just used to the responsiveness of an N/A motor? I came out of a 135i and now drive a 335is and I still think my brother's 328i (N20) feels plenty powerful, 260lb/ft from just off idle is quite a lot out of a 2 liter but you definitely do sit around waiting for the turbo to spool.

By contrast, I go to our other garage and get into the 2011 328i (N52) and am bored to death by how slow it is in the midrange (but god does it growl when you put your foot down).

I am already making 260lbs of tq to the wheels with my N20 on a load bearing dyno

That's stock software with just a muffler and midpipe.

alvitdk · 10-19-2012, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remonster

Maybe you're just used to the responsiveness of an N/A motor? I came out of a 135i and now drive a 335is and I still think my brother's 328i (N20) feels plenty powerful, 260lb/ft from just off idle is quite a lot out of a 2 liter but you definitely do sit around waiting for the turbo to spool.

By contrast, I go to our other garage and get into the 2011 328i (N52) and am bored to death by how slow it is in the midrange (but god does it growl when you put your foot down).

Get the AA tune for the 328i, you will change your mind quickly about the midrange

Remonster · 10-20-2012, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvitdk

Get the AA tune for the 328i, you will change your mind quickly about the midrange

I think you two misread my post, I'm saying the N20 has an awesomely powerful midrange. The N52 was the one that I said felt a little flat in the midrange in comparison to the new turbo motor.

Unless you're saying AA makes a tune for the straight six N52 that drastically improves the midrange? Our E90 328i is just the family beater so I'm not going to bother modding it, it's a fantastic car I just prefer the new motor's power.

alvitdk · 10-22-2012, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remonster

I think you two misread my post, I'm saying the N20 has an awesomely powerful midrange. The N52 was the one that I said felt a little flat in the midrange in comparison to the new turbo motor.

Unless you're saying AA makes a tune for the straight six N52 that drastically improves the midrange? Our E90 328i is just the family beater so I'm not going to bother modding it, it's a fantastic car I just prefer the new motor's power.

Exactly what I'm saying, I have the AA tune on my N52 128i, and it is a huge improvement over stock, especially in the mid range.

Jamesons Viggen · 10-22-2012, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvitdk

Exactly what I'm saying, I have the AA tune on my N52 128i, and it is a huge improvement over stock, especially in the mid range.

Tunes for NA and tunes for FI are a world of difference.

Tuning the N52 and tuning the N20 will make the torque gap even larger in the N20's favor becoming more like N52 vs N55.

alvitdk · 10-22-2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

Tunes for NA and tunes for FI are a world of difference.

Tuning the N52 and tuning the N20 will make the torque gap even larger in the N20's favor becoming more like N52 vs N55.

I am aware of it, just letting him know, since he complained about the midrange power on his N52, the AA tune takes care of that, nothing else.

Remonster · 10-22-2012, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvitdk

I am aware of it, just letting him know, since he complained about the midrange power on his N52, the AA tune takes care of that, nothing else.

Yeah, got it, thanks for the info.

10-08-2012, 12:25 PM	#27
Crisp Major Drives: E60 M5 6 Speed Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 1,442 iTrader: (1)	Why would the plastic in the timing assembly be such a concern for wear? Unless there are huge alignment issues, the chain will not be wearing out any of the plastic. If it is wearing it out, you would have catastrophic problems to worry about, never mind the plastic. lol __________________ 2009 A/W E93 335i-SOLD 2010 A/W E60 535i- SOLD 2008 E60 M5 MT - FLOODED 2013 M3 MT - AW/FR - Eisenmann Race 1991 Turbo Miata and 2013 Wrangler

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10-09-2012, 04:00 AM	#28
Subnasty Private First Class Drives: BMW F20 125i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: internet Posts: 184 iTrader: (0)	Hey, thanks for sharing – awesome stuff Although, I have one question. Does anyone know what are the differences between 125i and 328i? Do they have bigger Turbo’s or intakes, or is it just a different program which pulls more HP. Looking forward to an answer, cheers.

10-09-2012, 02:20 PM	#31
ansonivan Registered Drives: 1996 328i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 3 iTrader: (0)	Looking forward to servicing those engines, especially the weird little 3 cylinder MINI variant.