Hi, The N54 swap on the E85/E86 could be done without extra DME. The E85/86 non LCI and LCI all use the same Can communication protocol from the E46, all N54 use the new PT-Can protocol from the E9X. So there is no way to just connect this two Cans. The only way is to use any kind of translater/gateway/bride between the two CAN protocols. All signals from the N54 DME (RPM, TPS, temp...) need to be received from that PT-Can and translated to the old protocol and sended out to the Z85 Can. All relevant signals for the DME need to be received from the Z85 can translated to the new Can Protocol and sendet out to the MSD81 (N54 DME). This way is not that easy, because the PT-Can does have a lot more signals than the Z85 provides, e.g brake pressure for all wheels. Some signals have to be simulated. I already made such a gateway based on a arduino. It is tested on the car and on the engine, both sides are working. But I didnt do the engine swap yet. Here is the video where I simulated all DME signals with the arduino, no DME connected: th-cam.com/video/_RAA13WuPmI/w-d-xo.html
good job sorting that out!!, i did that swap about 3 years ago, that car is a beast. recently when it started overheating Jose and i stayed up till 1am the night before a show cause his original fan crapped out. we shoved the only fan we could get our hands on, i didnt realize it was a curved fan 🤦♂️😒
Good job! It's technically an E86... it's a coupe. Love those forged OEM M4 M513 wheels... didnt know you can squeeze the 10" wide rims in the back on these cars. The fitment is perfect.
Very nice work, professional and efficient! I am big fan of you because of how you do your work, how you share the knowledge and how nice the cars turn out to be.
Understanding CAN buss and it's iterations/changes through time from Bosch/BMW is paramount when enthusiasts start mixing things in. In heavy equipment such as construction equipment/tractors it is typical to have the cooling fan blow OUT through the radiator from the engine compartment. (const. equipment doesn't have speed to move air through the radiator/engine compartment.) GJP
This is absolutely brilliant. So much info. I feel like doing a project just to be able to use what I have learned or to be able to come back and learn more ha ha ha. Epic!
Well done! Still waiting on more info and vids regarding the fan controller you were developing! Keep up the great work! Also me: giggling like a child at 11:58 when he says "the bung is installed."
Do you have a video of n54 swap? Are the n52 engine mounts also suitable for the n54b30a engine? How did you solve the problem with the electronics? How did you connect everything to the bodysuit?
So all that was done is add another temp gauge? Didn't show what cluster was to compare? Easier to add temp sensor to radiator hose..or did I miss something
I tuned my n54 with mhd and have the temperature setup to sport mode/setting which holds my coolant temps around 220F. My n55 runs hotter on normal driving, 230F or 240F. I think I'll tune it too so it runs cooler. Every part gets baked under the hood running this hot.
Very nice Frank. That 220F is strange. My n54 2009 reaches only 205 F. And I have to drive about 15 miles to get that. I think it's on some tune because it pulls harder then a oem n54. A friend of mine has one on 350hp and he drove my car. According to him my n54 is faster🤔. Maybe they did an oilcooler thermostat upgrade and it operates cooler then an oem n54. The woman who owned it, didn't tune the car. She bought it from a businessman, when the car was 3 years old. He never mentioned the n54 is on a tune🤔. Dutch regards, Nico.
Maybe the n52 dme was disconnected from the tac and Speedo and uses the signal from the n54’s but then again why not just use that for the coolent temp gauge. So that must not be the answer
I have dreamed of owning an N54 E85 Z4 for YEEEEEARS. I had no idea someone had completed this swap... Is it identical to the E46 swap? Where can I find details?
This is something I am actively researching, I think it’s more complicated because the z4 with n52 has ews and cas modules. Possibly the older z4’s with m series motors and not n series motors would be similar to a e46 swap
The biggest thing though is it might be possible since they both have cas is completely remove the n52’s dme out of the picture since the car communicates with the same modules. The question is do they speak the same “language”
@@nemmayol I had already a conversation with a local workshop, they specialize on this kind of things and I was told that it can be done ( integrate n54 dme to z4 facelift). I will do only mechanical part of job. Also I need make custom engine supporting brackets, on right side will be custom and left side I will use from z4 n52. So far I'm waiting for parts and in 2 weeks will continue my project.
Why did you run two DME's ? I have a 2011 328xi e91. I also had an 08 335i e90. Eventually swapped the the n54 into the e91. MY harness was plug & play along with switching the CAS, FRM, DME . But is there a benefit to running the original 328xi DME in parallel ?.
@@Garageaholic the reason i left the n52 DME in it is because the car is an 07 and uses d-can instead of ptcan so the electric power steering wont work right without seeing the dme and rpm signal. if the car was an 08 with pt-can i would have been able to remove it completely and all the temps would work right with the cluster
@@Garageaholic I'm not professional in electric stuff, but I was told by professionals that it can be done, adopt n54 dme to z4 e85 (but only facelift) and e86. In next few months we will see who was right 🙂. Im on beginning of similar project n54 to z4 e85 3.0si
Bmw created this problem and only they know solutions for that 😂 They put lost of effort to build this problem and you think , you are more smart than BMW engineers?
I’ve taken my Z4 to multiple mechanics. Im good at working on her. The fan was absolutely running the wrong direction. Thank you. I love me girl.
Hi, The N54 swap on the E85/E86 could be done without extra DME. The E85/86 non LCI and LCI all use the same Can communication protocol from the E46, all N54 use the new PT-Can protocol from the E9X. So there is no way to just connect this two Cans. The only way is to use any kind of translater/gateway/bride between the two CAN protocols. All signals from the N54 DME (RPM, TPS, temp...) need to be received from that PT-Can and translated to the old protocol and sended out to the Z85 Can. All relevant signals for the DME need to be received from the Z85 can translated to the new Can Protocol and sendet out to the MSD81 (N54 DME). This way is not that easy, because the PT-Can does have a lot more signals than the Z85 provides, e.g brake pressure for all wheels. Some signals have to be simulated. I already made such a gateway based on a arduino. It is tested on the car and on the engine, both sides are working. But I didnt do the engine swap yet. Here is the video where I simulated all DME signals with the arduino, no DME connected: th-cam.com/video/_RAA13WuPmI/w-d-xo.html
Have you done the swap?
Impressed with the great quality of the video from a much smaller channel. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Justin. Hope I'm not this small for too much longer. It's a lot of work for a few VERY dedicated fans. Hope to spread the word!
good job sorting that out!!, i did that swap about 3 years ago, that car is a beast.
recently when it started overheating Jose and i stayed up till 1am the night before a show cause his original fan crapped out. we shoved the only fan we could get our hands on, i didnt realize it was a curved fan 🤦♂️😒
HAHA, glad to have helped! Now I'm working some finnicky issues with the fin sensor. But overall, it works pretty good!
Good job! It's technically an E86... it's a coupe. Love those forged OEM M4 M513 wheels... didnt know you can squeeze the 10" wide rims in the back on these cars. The fitment is perfect.
Look at that single turbo set up!!! Quality work sorting that out frank!
Very nice work, professional and efficient! I am big fan of you because of how you do your work, how you share the knowledge and how nice the cars turn out to be.
Coupes are E86. You are super knowledgeable, outstanding work!
Thank you!!
Understanding CAN buss and it's iterations/changes through time from Bosch/BMW is paramount when enthusiasts start mixing things in. In heavy equipment such as construction equipment/tractors it is typical to have the cooling fan blow OUT through the radiator from the engine compartment. (const. equipment doesn't have speed to move air through the radiator/engine compartment.) GJP
Right, of course! Interesting! Almost like being stuck in traffic for an hour!
Great diagnosis and location of the coolant temp bung!! Keep up the great work frank!!
Thanks!
Hey, nice video. Good to see how your channel is growing.
Thanks man!
Quality outcome, Frank, seems likely that you saved the head and quite possibly the whole engine from the scrap yard.
This is absolutely brilliant. So much info. I feel like doing a project just to be able to use what I have learned or to be able to come back and learn more ha ha ha. Epic!
Well done! Still waiting on more info and vids regarding the fan controller you were developing! Keep up the great work!
Also me: giggling like a child at 11:58 when he says "the bung is installed."
Hahahaa!
Do you have a video of n54 swap? Are the n52 engine mounts also suitable for the n54b30a engine? How did you solve the problem with the electronics? How did you connect everything to the bodysuit?
The radiator cover keeps the radiator in place better so it’s better to run with it on i think
Very nice car mods
So all that was done is add another temp gauge? Didn't show what cluster was to compare? Easier to add temp sensor to radiator hose..or did I miss something
I tuned my n54 with mhd and have the temperature setup to sport mode/setting which holds my coolant temps around 220F.
My n55 runs hotter on normal driving, 230F or 240F. I think I'll tune it too so it runs cooler. Every part gets baked under the hood running this hot.
Yeah, N54/5 like to run hotter than normal, but 230 is too hot. The fan regulates at 220-222F
Seriously great channel!!
Very nice Frank. That 220F is strange. My n54 2009 reaches only 205 F. And I have to drive about 15 miles to get that. I think it's on some tune because it pulls harder then a oem n54. A friend of mine has one on 350hp and he drove my car. According to him my n54 is faster🤔. Maybe they did an oilcooler thermostat upgrade and it operates cooler then an oem n54. The woman who owned it, didn't tune the car. She bought it from a businessman, when the car was 3 years old. He never mentioned the n54 is on a tune🤔. Dutch regards, Nico.
Don't know anything about this swap.. Why is there not the same issue with the tachometer for the kombi? Is not not through the canbus as well?
Maybe the n52 dme was disconnected from the tac and Speedo and uses the signal from the n54’s but then again why not just use that for the coolent temp gauge. So that must not be the answer
Nice work Frank. Where did you get the fan shroud from?
Actually - Ebay. All I needed was the aluminum shroud. "18-3/4" x 20-3/4" Aluminum 16" Fan And Shroud Fits 26" Radiator Chevy Ford Mopar"
I have dreamed of owning an N54 E85 Z4 for YEEEEEARS. I had no idea someone had completed this swap... Is it identical to the E46 swap? Where can I find details?
This is something I am actively researching, I think it’s more complicated because the z4 with n52 has ews and cas modules. Possibly the older z4’s with m series motors and not n series motors would be similar to a e46 swap
The biggest thing though is it might be possible since they both have cas is completely remove the n52’s dme out of the picture since the car communicates with the same modules. The question is do they speak the same “language”
I'm just on beginning of same project, i own 2008 z4 e85 3.0si and going to swap on n54, engine with transmission I bought already,
@@DZ_Z4turbo heck yes! What’s your plan for ecu and integration into the car?
@@nemmayol I had already a conversation with a local workshop, they specialize on this kind of things and I was told that it can be done ( integrate n54 dme to z4 facelift). I will do only mechanical part of job. Also I need make custom engine supporting brackets, on right side will be custom and left side I will use from z4 n52. So far I'm waiting for parts and in 2 weeks will continue my project.
What wheels are on the Z4?
Man this stuff is fascinating ! Thank you for posting!
Why did you run two DME's ?
I have a 2011 328xi e91. I also had an 08 335i e90. Eventually swapped the the n54 into the e91. MY harness was plug & play along with switching the CAS, FRM, DME . But is there a benefit to running the original 328xi DME in parallel ?.
The previous engine swap company implemented 2 dmes. I would not run 2 dmes and have always outfitted a single dme into my engine swaps
I swapped s55 from M4, to my Z4 coupe
I’d love to see that!
Cool! Can we see this?
Isnt that an e86 body(hardtop)? (e85 is the convertible) Love thd video tho.
Correct. It is an e86 in the video, not an e85.
Yeah I think I may have corrected that in the video somewhere
Is it possible to completely remove the n52’s dme? Would the N54 dme play nicely with the systems other modules?
Nope, the wiring is different at the DME connections
@@Garageaholic the reason i left the n52 DME in it is because the car is an 07 and uses d-can instead of ptcan so the electric power steering wont work right without seeing the dme and rpm signal. if the car was an 08 with pt-can i would have been able to remove it completely and all the temps would work right with the cluster
Interesting!! But you can no longer acquire an RPM signal from a the N52 DME, right? So is it reading rpm?
@@mncperformance1 do you know what build dates switched to PTcan on the z4’s?
@@Garageaholic crank sensor input for n52 is piggy backed into the crank sensor harness for n54 dme
I don't understand why need two dme's? I think n54 dme can be connected
Wiring harnesses are difference between the 2 DMEs
@@Garageaholic I'm not professional in electric stuff, but I was told by professionals that it can be done, adopt n54 dme to z4 e85 (but only facelift) and e86. In next few months we will see who was right 🙂. Im on beginning of similar project n54 to z4 e85 3.0si
I’d LOVE to hear your updates - where are you documenting the build? IG? YT? FB? Website or forum?
@@Garageaholic so far nowhere, but I'm collecting all info what I have done and when the project will be finished, it will be posted on my Instagram
@@Garageaholic th-cam.com/users/shorts4ExPCz5CfJY?feature=share
Great video!! A+
Bmw created this problem and only they know solutions for that 😂 They put lost of effort to build this problem and you think , you are more smart than BMW engineers?
sometimes, I am