I have driven My E39 (M54) since 2005. In total approx. 200.000 km. I had some small issues with thermostat, water pump and change of ignition coils, if you'dont see that as regular maintenance. It is still a pleasure to drive both on Autobahn speed or just causing around in more legal speeds. The engine and its character with its powertrain is why I still keep my Beemer and keep loving the car.
My m54 has 171k miles. Had it about 2 years and first thing I did before I even drove it to the store was ordered the new cooling system, and oil filter & oil, and the transmission fluid and trans filter, and a new heat exchanger. Since then I’ve installed an aftermarket highflow air intake with the proper air fuel ratio tune, after that I upgraded my coilpacks and spark plugs, fuel injectors and fuel pump. added catless headers, And had a custom exhaust made, now on the ms45 stage 3 tune from revmatch motorsport’s , running on 91 and 93, making really good gas mileage, insane throttle response AND ITS STILL MY DAILY. I’ve had this work done for about 5-6 months now and daily that car. It’s an absolute gem, I have about 3,000$ in total in the work I’ve done. Anyone in the market for a budget way into the car scene this is your chance before these cars blow up in value. I’m on my 3rd and still have my 2nd one still. Best cars ever
Have this engine in my 2002 330ci. Love it. I got sharper Schrick camshafts and a proper tuning for it. Now it makes 0-100km/h in about 5.8 Seconds with the 5 Speed Manual. Great for a 18 years old car. Its such a fun and nimble car with a set of coilovers and Pu bushings
I have owned a number of e30s (absolutely bullet proof m20- zero issues ever) an m54 330i m-sport (a few very minimal repairs, but nothing major throughout 70k miles) and a 2007 n52 328xi awd wagon... literally ever possible repair imaginable in only 30k miles. Starter, valve cover gasket, transfer case, auto transmission (GM model), water pump, exploding plastic hose connectors, driveline bearings and rubber parts (this was actually all three), coils and many more. bmw doc’s advice/recommendations and warnings of common issues have been absolutely dead on. I love the n52 and it’s well sorted now (1,200 miles last week without the slightest hiccup), but it has been endless work. I do love wrenching of these cars so I’m very happy with the e91 (we also spend a lot of time in snow so awd is key). It’s also the first auto-trans bmw which is a massive disappointment but critical in San Francisco. Lastly my wife insisted that our next car be an auto so the e91/n52 has been an excellent choice- but needs dramatically more maintenance then the older models (not an issue if you do it yourself).
A good friend gave me his X3, to my surprise it's the M54 Engine. and yeah I have shelled out 5K on labor and parts but she is running today, and I hope she can extend her life more, I would say I love to take care a car, so I am hoping no major issues will come. except those wear n tear parts.
I have the same engine, the most expensive maintenance for the car was the automatic transmission and suspensions and the cooling refresh. Then engine itself is reliable, oil change and dead coils. Oh and silky smooth engine and power at the top end.
I agree dr. Dean! I absolutely love those engines ! They are extremely reliable. Example I have one with 265k miles runs as smooth as day I bought it ! Only with normal maintenance done ..I’ll hate to see yours go bro !
my e46 is the easiest car to work on I've ever owned. 200K miles and the engine is working perfectly. I've replaced a few cooling system parts, I did have to replace the valve cover, and am starting to have to replace some hydraulic hoses.
My E39 520i (M54B22) has now 425 000 km and runs smoother than ever, mostly on LPG btw. One issue with these engines which is VERY often overlooked and therefore rarely mentioned: 🤓 On the M54 and M52, the hydraulic lifters OFTEN clog due to heat and cause all kinds of engine issues and fault codes, incl. misfires (!) but NONE of these codes actually mention to check the hydraulic lifters - they always "blame" another part. Hence you end up replacing alot of parts which might still be good without getting to the root cause. Try HYDRAULIC LIFTER CLEANING FLUID first, this stuff is meant to do just that, and it often really works! This is the simplest fix for your M54 and M52 engine, and you can't really hurt the engine with cleaner lifters, even if there is another fault as well. Think of it as Vitamins for your engine! And please: Try it first, comment and thank me later 😉
I love the m54 as it can take abuse, mine has been supercharged and running 7psi of boost for the last 15k miles, did a euro trip 4k miles, 2 track days, rev limiter every time i drive it and still going strong. Soon will increase the boost to 10 psi ;)
Just got my M54 a few days ago. The power is amazing and I did my oil service myself. I may need to consult a professional to do other maintenance if it breaks etc. nice video.
Same bro got my 04 e46 with 133k miles and did an oil change and topped off the coolant immediately and it’s ran perfect ever since, just drove to Tennessee and back no problems whatsoever
I personally thank you for this video Dean because I do have an M54 and I love it and I bought it for son when he was born for the safety ratings and of course it's still has a lot of power if needed and when I bought it at a hundred and ten and I've done nothing but changed every single gasket shocks struts links tie rods you name it's been replaced and I love this car so thank you for putting this video out
your welcome Kenny mate its not a issue mate I will be doing alot more of these videos as I know there is alot of you guys subscribed to me with this engine so I need to do more for you guys
@@BMWDoctor we thank you you are very knowledgeable and you respond to your subs and I personally love your channel and am thankful that I have it happy New Year
2005 330xi ....400k miles plus. Has 300k on clock but speedo has not worked for a few years. Replace the wheel speed sensor and it craps out in 3 months.
Great video. Im considering an m54b30 swap into a year 1990 e32 730i which has an m30b30 inline 6 cyl. so keeping the inline 6 cyl spirt alive but with a newer updated m54
Regarding the M54 specifically, any comments on M54B25 vs M54B30? Also my M54 is newer on my NA Touring, my software is MS45.1 instead of MS43, and it's a pain with INPA because I have to select M56 DME instead of M54 to scan properly. Thus how would I upgrade the DME and module SW to the latest with this quirk, and not break anything?
BMW Doctor i referenced your channel and Nathan's channel and it was relatively easy maintenance to do. Did all the coolant stuff too, so, yep, one sweet engine thanks to both of you 👍
How did you know you needed the evap parts replaced? My M54 evap parts are all factory, all the other usual stuff was changed incl fuel pump, fuel filter, injectors, coolant system, gaskets, etc but why touch the evap system?
great gardengnome my fuel trims were sky high. Ran the smoke thru the system and the small rubber pipes, and one of the ccv pipes leaked. Valve cover leaked oil too. Now when i pull the oil filler cap off when the engine is running, i get an idle note change. Total fuel trims are now less than 5 % on each bank
Yes yes Dean! My mum's had her 525i since 2001, M54B25 and it's running now as it did when new, I change oil and filters every 6k & valve cover gasket. Running 10W40 since it hit 100k & did radiator and all cooling system. I got an E46 325Ci myself now since August, was drinking oil when I bought it as it was running 5w30 but now I run Shell or Mobil 10W40 (is that ok bro?) and so the oil consumption is a lot less unless I have a bit of fun lol. Its my daily, averaging between 35-40mpg motorway daily... Brilliant brilliant engine man.
Hello i just bought E60 525i ( with Prins lpg ) 2004 and i think not only I ‘m asking myself do i need to put on a oil catch tank to my M54 and if it’s yes, there you go 1 idea 💡 for making another video with how to and what to do. Thank you, I’m watching you for small time but trying to watch your every single video! 👍 Keep it up! Greetings from Bulgaria 🇧🇬!
I own two BMW E39’s here in Spain (M54 & M57 engines) M54 is a very good engine (lot of leaking I repaired by myself and now the only thing it drinks like a quart of oil every 4.000 Km aprox.), but don’t underestimate M57 engine, it doesn’t drink any oil between changes, not any leaks, nothing...you remove swirl flaps and it’ll run forever. IMHO the best BMW engine is M57 193 HP.
Both are great engines. The M57 has more expensive problems as injectors and turbos. The M54 only drinks oil as it's main problem and blows poorly mantained cooling systems.
hi Nathan hope your well mate , just wondering would you consider putting the engine type along with the engine code on your titles for us that dont know every bmw engine code , for example M54 2.8 i6 or N52 3.0 i6 or N54 3.0 tti6 or M57 3.0 d6 ect , just a thought but thanks for the vids man always appreciated thanks
Thanks so much for these m54 videos. I've been looking at getting a z3 with an m54 and was worried about how expensive and difficult it would be to maintain. You've made me feel a lot better about it. Is there anything specific to a z3 that you think would need to be considered?
It should fly in a Z3 I've a Z4. 3.0I and absolutely love it man it's got plenty of get up go and is strong!! and as the man says.u couldn't ask for a smoother running engine
@@BMWDoctori owned a bmw e60 with n52b30 engine .. problems after problems ( hpfp, injectors , huge carbon build up , valve cover gasket , electrical problems , fuel consumption higher than it should've been) . Gearbox was really good though , comfortable and sporty at the same time , design was just beautiful (had a Alpinweiss M-technik package inside and out) . I'm looking now for a e60/61 with a m54b25 engine , maybe it'll be better .
What are your thoughts on the e38 M62 engine? I will be acquiring a 98 740il soon and wanted to know what to expect or what to be cautious about. Thanks.
If you could answer one question for me I was getting ready to take it to get inspected didn't know the fan was wobbling then hit upper hose it snaps almost all but three clutch fan blades it did not overheat but I'm worried that something got cracked and I'm seeing a bit of milky white Under the oil cap it is slowly going away should I flush the system and see what happens do you think one of them plastic clutch fan blades could crack the block? The ccv seems to be in tact maybe the plastic water hose .
hi mate I have a question. I bought a e46 but seems to be missing a secondary air pump and this engine in this video looks to be missing it too, how important are they?
I think M54B30 is much better then M57D30 im not diesel fan I like petrol petrol petrol but im glad you subbed because of the diesel content mate that was the trick of doing the videos thats why I stopped once I grabbed all the subs
The only big problem with these engines is that it is raising the the pressure in the coolant hoses to 2 bar, which puts the whole cooling system under stress. Thats why the hoses usually blow up and the car leaves you on the road. Other engines from VW, Audi etc usually pumps 1.2 bar in the cooling system.... Otherwise it is a good engine. For some reasons the M52TU is better.
I religiously use liquimoly on all my bmw cars. 5w40 leichleuf or special Tec make sure any oil you use is LL01 certified. Even the car parts store staff don't have a clue about this key rating.
This video convince myself not to buying an 540i e39, in order to choose one 530i 2002 with 78K Km,, and I'm glad because I've chosen a lifetime car, that hardly will be produced likewise. Cheers
i got a x3 04 with a 2.5 m54 manual, I drive about 300 miles every day, average of 1,800 miles per week with that car, got it with 158.000 miles now is 180000, I feels like it has so much more life left on it I wanna get it over 400000 lol
So I have a bmw 09 n53 e90 se, got 99k on the clock and trying to figure out why it's lacking power, first gear pull just seems all wrong? It seems slow and just dragging along. Any ideas?
I know mate troublesome troublesome box and bound to go into limp mode like they all do kevin was thinking of getting a E53 for my channel but just won’t do well mate
Any videos on the N47 engine? Or any specific things I should watch for besides timing chain. Why did you change from runflats, does suspension have to be adjusted? Thinking of putting hankook ventus s1 evo2 onto my e60.
@@3ManFunny Just had this problem on my 530I e39! pulled codes ad it was saying throttle postions sensor but was actually fixed by repairing the butterfly valve. do you also sometimes have issues with Engine failsafe mode when starting the car? Was a very cheap fix costing me £50 all in
Hey @bmwdoctor I need some guidance regarding an engine swap. So I bought a year 2000 323i with a blown motor and I later swapped it with a 2001 330i M54 motor and have run into Problems. The throttle body from the year 2000 is cable driven and the 2001 has the electric throttle body so it didn’t fit so we put in for the mean time a 1999 328i e46 throttle body which is cable driven also so it worked but now the car is having issues and feels like there’s not enough power and there’s codes popping up regarding the Problem : P0505 , P0412 I haven’t found any information on what to do with this kind of swap from the cable driven car conversion to the electric throttle body and the problems that arise. I just need it to pass smog here in California, USA
@@BMWDoctor There is a cheap M46 330i for sale locally that overheats. The owner claims to have replaced radiator, water pump and other cooling system parts after it began to overheat. He claims exhaust is not in the coolant, but its got to need a head gasket. He probably isn't telling the whole story - that he drove it for weeks needing to add coolant every day :)
Timothy Keith M54s run very hot when you’re driving it hard in the summer. You want to convert your m54 viscous fan to electric fan and get a high quality aftermarket radiator. Consider an aftermarket oil cooler too. That would solve any potential overheating issues.
The M54 engine runs very hot, but regardless the coolant temp should be bang on 97 or 98C and stay there if everything is running fine. I use torque pro app to alarm me if any sensor readings are out of whack. There are only 2 times my car overheated: water pump failed, and coolant pipes under intake cracked. If the cooling system loses pressure the car will overheat really fast so this guy may have had a leak for a long time and wasn't topping up fast enough with proper OEM coolant/water mixture of 50/50.
The M54 is a great engine, but BMW has too much plastic under the hood and those parts tend to become fragile with the heat/cool cycles. The engine itself IS very dependable, my X5 is on 212,800 miles!!! Let me throw another "option" out there for us old timers out there... how about the M30...let's see the feedback on that :)
Yo dean!!! What’s the best engine to swap into a bmw e90 2007 manual chassi?? I want to do my a motor swap but can decide. I’m looking for a balance of all motor, power, and easy maintenance. I was thinking s65, e86 any advice?!?!
Hi mate New in your channel. Is m54 only a petrol engine or the also do a diesel version. And which model had this engine. Does 320d has this engine?. Do you think changing timing belt is easy in this engines I hear there are BMW in which they have to pull the engine out to change it. Thanks mate. And sorry for so many questions
Hey bro... I’m locked out of my 06 530ix wagon. The car is completely powered down. I believe the car has gone into Security mode. I attended to have a locksmith pick the door but no luck. I know I have to power up the car but I fresh out of ideas on how to do so because I can’t enter the car by key or any other way. HELP!
Mine keeps on overheating randomly. All new performance parts. Water pump, thermostat, radiator etc Properly burped. Head gasket leak test passed. The mechanical fan has been deleted. Highway speeds no problem. Is there an obvious answer? It gets hot quick when idling. Heater always blows hot.
Can't find e39 in 1:43, only the m5's or 520i's cop/taxi cars, 🙄 I got an, 🙏🏾m54 five speed, BMW at an auto show said it's getting rare🔥🔥🏁🏁 theft proof 🇺🇸👍, nobody wanted a stick, it's mostly highway, and I speed up to the limit, which is fun in a stick 😇, thanks for the heads up
Look closely at the camshaft position sensors, there is an o ring that is prone to leak oil that's hard to notice. You can change the o ring, but I changed out the intake sensor with the new updated factory sensor and wow noticed improved throttle response too.
Exactly mate very very cheap maintenance compared to E60 , E90 but you can’t beat the feel drive interior of E60 and E90 much better inside and feels nicer to drive I still love N52
Of course the s54 engine. That’s the M3 E46. An iconic bmw for enthusiasts. And brings many memories to many who’ve played need for speed. Truly an iconic car
I think I had a M54 in my old E36 328i and it was a beast and easy to work on not that it ever went wrong with it in the slightest. Just an oil change and I think I did the spark plugs and wrapped tape around the coils to make sure they dont ark. Edit it had 140k when I bought it for £400 running like a dream but the body was battered and the door must have had a palet of filler in the cunt but it drove so well and fast as fuck, was auto and the box was smooth and changed well no issues but I think the diff started to whine about 2k before I wrote it off :(. I think it was m54 but from your description ot could have been m52 as the power delivery was aggressive especially with the kick down 2 gears lol
yes what a engine mate good to see you comment mate aint seen you for a while bro how's the m3 holding up bro was thinking to get one for the channel mate but im switching back and forth between the M5 , M3 , N54 its so confusing so many cars so many viewers lol
BMW Doctor just seen this message man. Yeah I think a M car would do great for the channel as it’s what so many people aspire to especially the young people. My e92 M3 has been flawless now for since I got it 7 months ago but for your channel I think a imperfect one would be good to give you views while you use your skill to bring it back to its former glory. I’m a original spec guy but loads also love the mod aspect.
Alvin Ryan no mate I don’t listen to what PEOPLE THINK will be good to please them because they own that car I do what I want and buy what I want and I’m sure you will see that with my next car Nathan is selling the M5 once he’s finished the videos now he don’t want to keep it I’m coming away from bmw I’m re shaping this whole channel just wait And mate C63 AMG will destroy the M3 and M5 bro and you know that sorry to tell you mate M3 ain’t crap on the road same as the M5 i showed Nathan about that car and now even he is thinking all that car has is a V10 sound that’s it !! And top end power which is useless on normal day to day driving AMG C63 can be used daily on the roads constantly and smokes everything it goes near
I've got 217K miles on my 03 Z4 (w 6 speed manual) and it runs amazing. Was well maintained. I had to do a few things when I got it (water pump intake boot belts pulleys) and I can see no reason why it can't easily go another 50K at least. Car looks like new essentially as well.
I’ve recently bought a z4 and I understand it has the M54 and yep I love it’s turbine like power. My question is this, is the M54 engine in my Z4 the same as in the E46?
My 2003 Z4, 3.0 liter is about to roll 200,000 miles and still runs like a champ. Love that car.
I have driven My E39 (M54) since 2005. In total approx. 200.000 km. I had some small issues with thermostat, water pump and change of ignition coils, if you'dont see that as regular maintenance. It is still a pleasure to drive both on Autobahn speed or just causing around in more legal speeds. The engine and its character with its powertrain is why I still keep my Beemer and keep loving the car.
One of the best inline 6s bmw has ever made reliability is overall amazing just gotta watch out for the coolant system
2003 E46 M54 B30 injection, stationwagon here. 400,000 kms and still running smooth and silent. applying lots of love
I like those engines I have a E46 with 354000 miles on it with no problems
Hi which oil type and number do you use for engine ??
Good luck bro
No way man, mine has 215,000 and runs perfectly fine too these engines are very well designed and very well made
What. Proofs?
no oil consumption?
My m54 has 171k miles. Had it about 2 years and first thing I did before I even drove it to the store was ordered the new cooling system, and oil filter & oil, and the transmission fluid and trans filter, and a new heat exchanger. Since then I’ve installed an aftermarket highflow air intake with the proper air fuel ratio tune, after that I upgraded my coilpacks and spark plugs, fuel injectors and fuel pump. added catless headers, And had a custom exhaust made, now on the ms45 stage 3 tune from revmatch motorsport’s , running on 91 and 93, making really good gas mileage, insane throttle response AND ITS STILL MY DAILY. I’ve had this work done for about 5-6 months now and daily that car. It’s an absolute gem, I have about 3,000$ in total in the work I’ve done. Anyone in the market for a budget way into the car scene this is your chance before these cars blow up in value. I’m on my 3rd and still have my 2nd one still. Best cars ever
Have this engine in my 2002 330ci. Love it. I got sharper Schrick camshafts and a proper tuning for it. Now it makes 0-100km/h in about 5.8 Seconds with the 5 Speed Manual. Great for a 18 years old car. Its such a fun and nimble car with a set of coilovers and Pu bushings
can we have detail about ur tunning?
I own a E46 M54 2.2 manual convertible 2002...have it for 3 years now, 97000 miles.. love it..
Any problem with oil burning or something? Or any problems at all?
I want to buy this engine too but idk if is the best idea and i wanna know what i am buying, do you use the 5w40 oil? What do you think is the best?
My e60’s got this engine . Boy, I love the purr of the m54 when I drive . So silky smooth and problem free. Loving me e60 more daily , even I. 2024! 😂
This engine will cover 3,4, hundred Thousand Miles with regular servicing
I have owned a number of e30s (absolutely bullet proof m20- zero issues ever) an m54 330i m-sport (a few very minimal repairs, but nothing major throughout 70k miles) and a 2007 n52 328xi awd wagon... literally ever possible repair imaginable in only 30k miles.
Starter, valve cover gasket, transfer case, auto transmission (GM model), water pump, exploding plastic hose connectors, driveline bearings and rubber parts (this was actually all three), coils and many more. bmw doc’s advice/recommendations and warnings of common issues have been absolutely dead on. I love the n52 and it’s well sorted now (1,200 miles last week without the slightest hiccup), but it has been endless work. I do love wrenching of these cars so I’m very happy with the e91 (we also spend a lot of time in snow so awd is key). It’s also the first auto-trans bmw which is a massive disappointment but critical in San Francisco. Lastly my wife insisted that our next car be an auto so the e91/n52 has been an excellent choice- but needs dramatically more maintenance then the older models (not an issue if you do it yourself).
Thank you for the video, getting my E60 2005 with the M54 engine in a week it has 61000km...so just gave me some piece of mind...thank you
your welcome mate
I’m still in love with my 2004 E60 M54B30 absolute beast with the classic inline 6 noise running strong at 246k kilometers
My 05 e60 with the m54 has 200k miles runs great
310 miles and I sell it and he still driving the car m54b30 engine one of the best cars I ever owned
A good friend gave me his X3, to my surprise it's the M54 Engine. and yeah I have shelled out 5K on labor and parts but she is running today, and I hope she can extend her life more, I would say I love to take care a car, so I am hoping no major issues will come. except those wear n tear parts.
I have the same engine, the most expensive maintenance for the car was the automatic transmission and suspensions and the cooling refresh. Then engine itself is reliable, oil change and dead coils. Oh and silky smooth engine and power at the top end.
Which auto did you have? Looking at a few semi autos with same engine
i totaly agree . i have e39 with m54b25 and i love it! for me is a sweet spot. quite fast but very comfortable.
I agree dr. Dean! I absolutely love those engines ! They are extremely reliable. Example I have one with 265k miles runs as smooth as day I bought it ! Only with normal maintenance done ..I’ll hate to see yours go bro !
When I got rid of my e39 it had 250k on it and the guy that bought it still drives it to this day. I sold it in 2013.
my e46 is the easiest car to work on I've ever owned. 200K miles and the engine is working perfectly. I've replaced a few cooling system parts, I did have to replace the valve cover, and am starting to have to replace some hydraulic hoses.
Great engine, very reliable
My E39 520i (M54B22) has now 425 000 km and runs smoother than ever, mostly on LPG btw. One issue with these engines which is VERY often overlooked and therefore rarely mentioned: 🤓 On the M54 and M52, the hydraulic lifters OFTEN clog due to heat and cause all kinds of engine issues and fault codes, incl. misfires (!) but NONE of these codes actually mention to check the hydraulic lifters - they always "blame" another part. Hence you end up replacing alot of parts which might still be good without getting to the root cause. Try HYDRAULIC LIFTER CLEANING FLUID first, this stuff is meant to do just that, and it often really works! This is the simplest fix for your M54 and M52 engine, and you can't really hurt the engine with cleaner lifters, even if there is another fault as well. Think of it as Vitamins for your engine! And please: Try it first, comment and thank me later 😉
Cleaning the lifters requires the cams and lots of other stuff to come out, not a very pleasant job for the average guy.
@@dohc1974 my point exactly! And that’s where the "hydraulic lifter cleaning fluid" comes in > no need to disassemble anything 😉
I love the m54 as it can take abuse, mine has been supercharged and running 7psi of boost for the last 15k miles, did a euro trip 4k miles, 2 track days, rev limiter every time i drive it and still going strong. Soon will increase the boost to 10 psi ;)
I love it, too. M54 2004 325i sport edition black. Cute car and I get complements. People know it has a 6 inline.
Me too! I'm currently working on cramming this beauty into my E30 chassis.
Just got my M54 a few days ago. The power is amazing and I did my oil service myself. I may need to consult a professional to do other maintenance if it breaks etc. nice video.
Same bro got my 04 e46 with 133k miles and did an oil change and topped off the coolant immediately and it’s ran perfect ever since, just drove to Tennessee and back no problems whatsoever
Thanks for the video 😁 converting my m43 with 210000 km to a m54b30 from a e53 x5 . Cant wait !
Completely Agree with this video , own two e46's and i love it!
BimmerBoy same! @swedishbimmercrew on insta
I personally thank you for this video Dean because I do have an M54 and I love it and I bought it for son when he was born for the safety ratings and of course it's still has a lot of power if needed and when I bought it at a hundred and ten and I've done nothing but changed every single gasket shocks struts links tie rods you name it's been replaced and I love this car so thank you for putting this video out
your welcome Kenny mate its not a issue mate I will be doing alot more of these videos as I know there is alot of you guys subscribed to me with this engine so I need to do more for you guys
@@BMWDoctor we thank you you are very knowledgeable and you respond to your subs and I personally love your channel and am thankful that I have it happy New Year
Going into 2024 still the legendary motor
2005 330xi ....400k miles plus. Has 300k on clock but speedo has not worked for a few years. Replace the wheel speed sensor and it craps out in 3 months.
M54s25 270k miles and still running smooth. Electrical issues are a separate issue tho lol
Great video. Im considering an m54b30 swap into a year 1990 e32 730i which has an m30b30 inline 6 cyl. so keeping the inline 6 cyl spirt alive but with a newer updated m54
I have an E60 with the M54 it has over 120miles and drives like brand new, at this point I have never had to change any OEM part
m54 in my own opinion is the best engine bmw has ever made
Rani T M57 disagrees
@@TheultimateDIYmachine you have to illegally delete all the emissions stuff though
Regarding the M54 specifically, any comments on M54B25 vs M54B30? Also my M54 is newer on my NA Touring, my software is MS45.1 instead of MS43, and it's a pain with INPA because I have to select M56 DME instead of M54 to scan properly. Thus how would I upgrade the DME and module SW to the latest with this quirk, and not break anything?
M50/M54 my faves
My M54B30 engine still runs as smooth as silk. I have done all the evap stuff and it is now even better 👍
That’s the way mate that’s what I did on this one
BMW Doctor i referenced your channel and Nathan's channel and it was relatively easy maintenance to do. Did all the coolant stuff too, so, yep, one sweet engine thanks to both of you 👍
How did you know you needed the evap parts replaced? My M54 evap parts are all factory, all the other usual stuff was changed incl fuel pump, fuel filter, injectors, coolant system, gaskets, etc but why touch the evap system?
great gardengnome my fuel trims were sky high. Ran the smoke thru the system and the small rubber pipes, and one of the ccv pipes leaked. Valve cover leaked oil too. Now when i pull the oil filler cap off when the engine is running, i get an idle note change. Total fuel trims are now less than 5 % on each bank
Yes yes Dean! My mum's had her 525i since 2001, M54B25 and it's running now as it did when new, I change oil and filters every 6k & valve cover gasket. Running 10W40 since it hit 100k & did radiator and all cooling system. I got an E46 325Ci myself now since August, was drinking oil when I bought it as it was running 5w30 but now I run Shell or Mobil 10W40 (is that ok bro?) and so the oil consumption is a lot less unless I have a bit of fun lol. Its my daily, averaging between 35-40mpg motorway daily... Brilliant brilliant engine man.
I tried 10/40 and made my engine start tapping
@@grahamclay Ah mate sorry to hear this!
Neeeever fill BMW with 10w40 :(
Hello i just bought E60 525i ( with Prins lpg ) 2004 and i think not only I ‘m asking myself do i need to put on a oil catch tank to my M54 and if it’s yes, there you go 1 idea 💡 for making another video with how to and what to do. Thank you, I’m watching you for small time but trying to watch your every single video! 👍 Keep it up! Greetings from Bulgaria 🇧🇬!
During the winter months the can fills up with oily water that will freeze solid on those sub freezing nights/mornings.
You mentioned the gearboxes like to go wrong, are we talking about auto or manual boxes?
I own two BMW E39’s here in Spain (M54 & M57 engines) M54 is a very good engine (lot of leaking I repaired by myself and now the only thing it drinks like a quart of oil every 4.000 Km aprox.), but don’t underestimate M57 engine, it doesn’t drink any oil between changes, not any leaks, nothing...you remove swirl flaps and it’ll run forever. IMHO the best BMW engine is M57 193 HP.
Both are great engines. The M57 has more expensive problems as injectors and turbos.
The M54 only drinks oil as it's main problem and blows poorly mantained cooling systems.
hi Nathan hope your well mate , just wondering would you consider putting the engine type along with the engine code on your titles for us that dont know every bmw engine code , for example M54 2.8 i6 or N52 3.0 i6 or N54 3.0 tti6 or M57 3.0 d6 ect , just a thought but thanks for the vids man always appreciated thanks
Uhhh...Nathan is another channel. I sub both they complement each other
Thanks so much for these m54 videos. I've been looking at getting a z3 with an m54 and was worried about how expensive and difficult it would be to maintain. You've made me feel a lot better about it. Is there anything specific to a z3 that you think would need to be considered?
Just check the oil level regularly, they thirsty hehe
It should fly in a Z3 I've a Z4. 3.0I and absolutely love it man it's got plenty of get up go and is strong!! and as the man says.u couldn't ask for a smoother running engine
You've hopefully bought it already but I've got the m54 in my early z4 3.0. IT IS TOO GOOD, the noise is so so good
I love the M54 because I'm now driving a car with an N52 engine.
I love both aswell that’s why as I always say it’s very very hard for me to pick both are different engines both have a different character about them
@@BMWDoctori owned a bmw e60 with n52b30 engine .. problems after problems ( hpfp, injectors , huge carbon build up , valve cover gasket , electrical problems , fuel consumption higher than it should've been) .
Gearbox was really good though , comfortable and sporty at the same time , design was just beautiful (had a Alpinweiss M-technik package inside and out) .
I'm looking now for a e60/61 with a m54b25 engine , maybe it'll be better .
What are your thoughts on the e38 M62 engine? I will be acquiring a 98 740il soon and wanted to know what to expect or what to be cautious about. Thanks.
If you could answer one question for me I was getting ready to take it to get inspected didn't know the fan was wobbling then hit upper hose it snaps almost all but three clutch fan blades it did not overheat but I'm worried that something got cracked and I'm seeing a bit of milky white Under the oil cap it is slowly going away should I flush the system and see what happens do you think one of them plastic clutch fan blades could crack the block? The ccv seems to be in tact maybe the plastic water hose .
My old 2005 525. Have had it for 11 years now. 150k on the dash.
hi mate I have a question. I bought a e46 but seems to be missing a secondary air pump and this engine in this video looks to be missing it too, how important are they?
My 2005 bmw x3 m54 has 160,000miles running strong for now lol
A few years ago i have e46 wih m54b25 i liked it but now i own m57d30 and i think is better and more reliable.
I think M54B30 is much better then M57D30 im not diesel fan I like petrol petrol petrol but im glad you subbed because of the diesel content mate that was the trick of doing the videos thats why I stopped once I grabbed all the subs
BMW Doctor no mate im not subbed for this... i subbed because i love your videos. Hahaha im a diesel fan. They are easy and cheap for daily tune 😂😂
The only big problem with these engines is that it is raising the the pressure in the coolant hoses to 2 bar, which puts the whole cooling system under stress. Thats why the hoses usually blow up and the car leaves you on the road. Other engines from VW, Audi etc usually pumps 1.2 bar in the cooling system.... Otherwise it is a good engine. For some reasons the M52TU is better.
Hi ! can you please tell me if you think liqui moly 5w40 is good for this engine ?
Yes very very good oil and I recommend
I religiously use liquimoly on all my bmw cars. 5w40 leichleuf or special Tec make sure any oil you use is LL01 certified. Even the car parts store staff don't have a clue about this key rating.
Fantastic info Dean I'm going to look for a E39 530i msport champagne edition & sell my E39 528i
This video convince myself not to buying an 540i e39, in order to choose one 530i 2002 with 78K Km,, and I'm glad because I've chosen a lifetime car, that hardly will be produced likewise. Cheers
i got a x3 04 with a 2.5 m54 manual, I drive about 300 miles every day, average of 1,800 miles per week with that car, got it with 158.000 miles now is 180000, I feels like it has so much more life left on it I wanna get it over 400000 lol
So I have a bmw 09 n53 e90 se, got 99k on the clock and trying to figure out why it's lacking power, first gear pull just seems all wrong? It seems slow and just dragging along. Any ideas?
Love mine M54 . Yes the ccv and the starter will suck to replace. Mine runs fine. I've got the GM box on the X5. 👍👍
I know mate troublesome troublesome box and bound to go into limp mode like they all do kevin was thinking of getting a E53 for my channel but just won’t do well mate
Any videos on the N47 engine? Or any specific things I should watch for besides timing chain.
Why did you change from runflats, does suspension have to be adjusted? Thinking of putting hankook ventus s1 evo2 onto my e60.
Any advice to eml light and limp mode after going over 4k rpm
maybe throttle pedal has a problems or throttle body remove the boot and see if the throttle body if it's dirty
@@3ManFunny Just had this problem on my 530I e39! pulled codes ad it was saying throttle postions sensor but was actually fixed by repairing the butterfly valve. do you also sometimes have issues with Engine failsafe mode when starting the car? Was a very cheap fix costing me £50 all in
Another enjoyable, and informative, video, Dean!
thanks lance mate
What were you saying ab the dipstick?
Hey @bmwdoctor I need some guidance regarding an engine swap. So I bought a year 2000 323i with a blown motor and I later swapped it with a 2001 330i M54 motor and have run into Problems. The throttle body from the year 2000 is cable driven and the 2001 has the electric throttle body so it didn’t fit so we put in for the mean time a 1999 328i e46 throttle body which is cable driven also so it worked but now the car is having issues and feels like there’s not enough power and there’s codes popping up regarding the Problem : P0505 , P0412 I haven’t found any information on what to do with this kind of swap from the cable driven car conversion to the electric throttle body and the problems that arise. I just need it to pass smog here in California, USA
My m54 is knocking mechanic said buy used engine or buy new car? What to do
Great engines and easy to maintain. The N52 will go down the same way in terms of parts costs at some point.
Is the M54 prone to overheating? If so, are head gasket problems common ?
no there not providing you overhaul the whole engine which is very very cheap maintenance anyway
@@BMWDoctor There is a cheap M46 330i for sale locally that overheats. The owner claims to have replaced radiator, water pump and other cooling system parts after it began to overheat. He claims exhaust is not in the coolant, but its got to need a head gasket. He probably isn't telling the whole story - that he drove it for weeks needing to add coolant every day :)
Timothy Keith M54s run very hot when you’re driving it hard in the summer. You want to convert your m54 viscous fan to electric fan and get a high quality aftermarket radiator. Consider an aftermarket oil cooler too. That would solve any potential overheating issues.
Timothy Keith If you want to buy it why not bring a test kit with you when you’re inspecting the car if it’s local why not
The M54 engine runs very hot, but regardless the coolant temp should be bang on 97 or 98C and stay there if everything is running fine. I use torque pro app to alarm me if any sensor readings are out of whack. There are only 2 times my car overheated: water pump failed, and coolant pipes under intake cracked. If the cooling system loses pressure the car will overheat really fast so this guy may have had a leak for a long time and wasn't topping up fast enough with proper OEM coolant/water mixture of 50/50.
What brand thermostat should I go for
Swapped the m54b30 to my E34, Best setup
Do you recommend buying an e60 with the m54?
I have e60 525i 2003 with M54...nice
66e 745li(n62) vs 66e 730li(m54) Please suggest me.
The M54 is a great engine, but BMW has too much plastic under the hood and those parts tend to become fragile with the heat/cool cycles. The engine itself IS very dependable, my X5 is on 212,800 miles!!! Let me throw another "option" out there for us old timers out there... how about the M30...let's see the feedback on that :)
Swap a metal valve cover if you can find one. Ahhh... the M30!
The best engine.My have 350000 km and still good condition
So I know The N55 is much worse, but is the N55 reliable?
Yo dean!!! What’s the best engine to swap into a bmw e90 2007 manual chassi?? I want to do my a motor swap but can decide. I’m looking for a balance of all motor, power, and easy maintenance. I was thinking s65, e86 any advice?!?!
Hi mate New in your channel. Is m54 only a petrol engine or the also do a diesel version. And which model had this engine. Does 320d has this engine?. Do you think changing timing belt is easy in this engines I hear there are BMW in which they have to pull the engine out to change it. Thanks mate. And sorry for so many questions
Hey bro... I’m locked out of my 06 530ix wagon. The car is completely powered down. I believe the car has gone into Security mode. I attended to have a locksmith pick the door but no luck. I know I have to power up the car but I fresh out of ideas on how to do so because I can’t enter the car by key or any other way. HELP!
mate climb under the car hook your leads up to your starter motor cable and it will open the locks
Doc... I appreciate ur fast response and suggestions.
Keep on being real!
Mine keeps on overheating randomly. All new performance parts. Water pump, thermostat, radiator etc Properly burped. Head gasket leak test passed. The mechanical fan has been deleted. Highway speeds no problem. Is there an obvious answer? It gets hot quick when idling. Heater always blows hot.
Can't find e39 in 1:43, only the m5's or 520i's cop/taxi cars, 🙄 I got an, 🙏🏾m54 five speed, BMW at an auto show said it's getting rare🔥🔥🏁🏁 theft proof 🇺🇸👍, nobody wanted a stick, it's mostly highway, and I speed up to the limit, which is fun in a stick 😇, thanks for the heads up
I have M54 on an E53 that sweats oil, uses 98octane and LPG. Anything else to check rather than valve cover, sump and oil filter housing caskets?
many many many many many things to check
Look closely at the camshaft position sensors, there is an o ring that is prone to leak oil that's hard to notice. You can change the o ring, but I changed out the intake sensor with the new updated factory sensor and wow noticed improved throttle response too.
Anti Rästa Oil dipstick O-ring, Vanos...
Once again brilliant content you are really helping me out with your knowledge 👍👍🔥
Your welcome mate I have a lot more to come brother trust me
Wish you was around corner from me I would gladly let you do my engine swap with me with your knowledge buddy
Could you please let me know exactly which part I need to bypass my built in amp? My speakers stopped getting sound
Find a junkyard Amp or get a new one from factory
What’s better m52 or m54?
how do you rank the m52tu in my 99 528i?
a problematic engine with single vanos and head gasket failure is high on that engine
@@BMWDoctor I'm in the US, pretty sure dual vanos... Are ya at the pub? Lol
yes m52 is single vanos M52TU IS DOUBLE VANOS but has head gasket issues
My brother have one I do all the mechanic I wish my e90 was that easy to work e46 is simple and way cheaper to maintain easy to keep it running 100%
Exactly mate very very cheap maintenance compared to E60 , E90 but you can’t beat the feel drive interior of E60 and E90 much better inside and feels nicer to drive I still love N52
Absolutely right dean e60 and e90 is a complete difference experience
I love my M54, only thing I would love is just a tad lower mpg :).
You mean a tad higher mpg lol
@@wdbdb382 True, I was thinking in L/100km
Ahhh makes sense
Not many videos on one of the best cars E39 looking foreword
You are correct I intend to get one of those soon for a lot of videos on that car that most ain’t done
I’m doing my head gasket and custom cam m54
Can the m54 engine use a Blow Off Valve ?
Bruh what? It’s not turbocharged
@@Bkwdz😭😭😭😭
Excellent video mate 👍Have a great weekend
Cheers Michael mate you aswell mate
What about the M50? The M54 consumes lots of oil due to the inferior ring designs.
Which is a better Engine the M54 or the S54?
Of course the s54 engine. That’s the M3 E46. An iconic bmw for enthusiasts. And brings many memories to many who’ve played need for speed. Truly an iconic car
Sweet m54 video on my birthday
Your welcome and happy birthday
I think I had a M54 in my old E36 328i and it was a beast and easy to work on not that it ever went wrong with it in the slightest. Just an oil change and I think I did the spark plugs and wrapped tape around the coils to make sure they dont ark. Edit it had 140k when I bought it for £400 running like a dream but the body was battered and the door must have had a palet of filler in the cunt but it drove so well and fast as fuck, was auto and the box was smooth and changed well no issues but I think the diff started to whine about 2k before I wrote it off :(. I think it was m54 but from your description ot could have been m52 as the power delivery was aggressive especially with the kick down 2 gears lol
I think it would have been M52tu mate
Still have the original battery on mine. The longevity is probably to do with heat. The battery gets no heat in the trunk.
Great video! What a engine
yes what a engine mate good to see you comment mate aint seen you for a while bro how's the m3 holding up bro was thinking to get one for the channel mate but im switching back and forth between the M5 , M3 , N54 its so confusing so many cars so many viewers lol
BMW Doctor just seen this message man. Yeah I think a M car would do great for the channel as it’s what so many people aspire to especially the young people. My e92 M3 has been flawless now for since I got it 7 months ago but for your channel I think a imperfect one would be good to give you views while you use your skill to bring it back to its former glory. I’m a original spec guy but loads also love the mod aspect.
I’ve started watching Nathan’s channel again since he bought the M5 and 2002.
I’ve watched channels with massive views just because they have a M3 and are total dorks with no specialist knowledge ( road and race)
Alvin Ryan no mate I don’t listen to what PEOPLE THINK will be good to please them because they own that car I do what I want and buy what I want and I’m sure you will see that with my next car Nathan is selling the M5 once he’s finished the videos now he don’t want to keep it
I’m coming away from bmw I’m re shaping this whole channel just wait
And mate C63 AMG will destroy the M3 and M5 bro and you know that sorry to tell you mate M3 ain’t crap on the road same as the M5 i showed Nathan about that car and now even he is thinking all that car has is a V10 sound that’s it !! And top end power which is useless on normal day to day driving AMG C63 can be used daily on the roads constantly and smokes everything it goes near
Can I put an M54 in a 318i e46?
plug in play
yes, but why not just buy a an e46 which already has it? much cheaper no?
How many miles can it last? I have a 2004
I've got 217K miles on my 03 Z4 (w 6 speed manual) and it runs amazing. Was well maintained. I had to do a few things when I got it (water pump intake boot belts pulleys) and I can see no reason why it can't easily go another 50K at least. Car looks like new essentially as well.
Can a M54B25 supports turbocharge? Like 300hp?
I have e39 528i M52B28 with 420 000km and still run like a clock.
I’ve recently bought a z4 and I understand it has the M54 and yep I love it’s turbine like power. My question is this, is the M54 engine in my Z4 the same as in the E46?
Howard Walker it will be the same engine