Buying a high mileage135i N54

[ashlinm]

Good day Everyone

I was hoping you guys could give me some expert advice from your experiences on owning, maintaining and the up keep of a high mileage 135i N54. I am looking to purchase a very well maintained 135i that has 200k mileage and a full BMW service history.

Can you advise if it would be recommended to buy a high mileage N54 and the common issues that one needs to look out for after the 200k mileage mark?

Thanks guys, looking forward to your responses!

 

[Rommies]

Hey bud. I believe this topic has been covered many times before. Just do a quick search on the forum about N54 and you will come across lots of discussions about problems /
modifications / experiences etc.

Here is a pretty good one to start off:

5 Common Problems With The BMW N54 Engine (video + article)

5 Common Problems With The BMW N54 Engine (video + article)

Watch Video Arguably one of the best and most tunable engines (considered the German 2JZ) BMW has ever produced, the turbocharged straight-six petrol engine N54 has also been housed in some of BMW’s most beloved models of the mid-2000s. First introduced back in 2006, the N54’s quality spanned a...

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[ashlinm]

Hey bud. I believe this topic has been covered many times before. Just do a quick search on the forum about N54 and you will come across lots of discussions about problems /
modifications / experiences etc.

Here is a pretty good one to start off:

5 Common Problems With The BMW N54 Engine (video + article)

5 Common Problems With The BMW N54 Engine (video + article)

Watch Video Arguably one of the best and most tunable engines (considered the German 2JZ) BMW has ever produced, the turbocharged straight-six petrol engine N54 has also been housed in some of BMW’s most beloved models of the mid-2000s. First introduced back in 2006, the N54’s quality spanned a...

r.tapatalk.com

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks bud, will definitely do so.. Thanks for the response

 

[Jeremy]

Hi Ashlin,

As Rommies said there is a lot of information on this topic, I am a fellow N54 owner, I bought a lowish mileage example and have daily driven it for 2 years now.

The biggest issues I have encountered was the waterpump and thermostat at 86k, hpfp at 98k, boost solenoids at 135k. I have done some preventative maintenance such as uprated PCV, aluminium charge pipe, carbon clean, 1 step colder plugs, car is now on 5W-40 (Motul). My OFHG was also shot and I replaced that with the HPFP at 98kish. Tapped cover gasket was changed at 110k it also had a leak, i changed the oil filler cap to the N55 as that was the recommended upgrade for a leaky N54 oil filler cap. There were a few other small things changed, that i cant recall right now, like hoses etc.

Other than that, i still smile everytime i start her. I do have plans for bigger turbos and a full exhaust in the future.

I hope this helps. Please run the VIN of the car you would like to purchase, check for all of the above, also check what index injectors it has.

 

[ashlinm]

Hi Ashlin,

As Rommies said there is a lot of information on this topic, I am a fellow N54 owner, I bought a lowish mileage example and have daily driven it for 2 years now.

The biggest issues I have encountered was the waterpump and thermostat at 86k, hpfp at 98k, boost solenoids at 135k. I have done some preventative maintenance such as uprated PCV, aluminium charge pipe, carbon clean, 1 step colder plugs, car is now on 5W-40 (Motul). My OFHG was also shot and I replaced that with the HPFP at 98kish. Tapped cover gasket was changed at 110k it also had a leak, i changed the oil filler cap to the N55 as that was the recommended upgrade for a leaky N54 oil filler cap. There were a few other small things changed, that i cant recall right now, like hoses etc.

Other than that, i still smile everytime i start her. I do have plans for bigger turbos and a full exhaust in the future.

I hope this helps. Please run the VIN of the car you would like to purchase, check for all of the above, also check what index injectors it has.

Thanks Jeremy for that detailed response listing all the issues you encountered! it is highly appreciated man.

I will obtain the VIN number and get it run at my nearest BMW dealer.

Thanks again!

 

[Jeremy]

Thanks Jeremy for that detailed response listing all the issues you encountered! it is highly appreciated man.

I will obtain the VIN number and get it run at my nearest BMW dealer.

Thanks again!

My pleasure, all the best bud!

N54 gang!