[scottygrape]

Hey guys. I wanted to take some time to make a build thread. As well as a place for other people to learn with me as I go so we can all push this platform forward. I truly believe the N55 is the monster that never got woken up. As the title says I pulled my motor and am in the process of building it. I will be doing all of the work myself. Just wanted a place to document my he process so I will go through and post pictures of work done thus far and what I plan on using for parts for this build. End goal for this car is to be as reliable as possible while being fairly quick on a short track. Goal is 2.6 second 0-60 time and mid 6s in the 1/8th. For HP I would like to make 600-650awhp. The best time I had on my PS2 and e50 was 10.95 in the 1/4. See attached dragy slip.

The car is a 2015 335i Xdrive 8 Speed Auto. Has about 100k miles on it.

Engine:

-Rebuilding the head, 3 angle valve job, new needle bearings and carrier bearings for eccentric shaft, valve seals, hot tank and decking.

-The block is getting decked, hot tanked, and bored/honed to 84.5mm, some 84.5mm CP Pistons, Manley Rods, King Rod and Main bearings, 4 pin SSR crank Hub, all new seals, timing hardware and gaskets.

-For a turbo I have purchased a Pure 750 with the upgraded inlet.


Tuning/Fueling:

-Stage 3 Precision Raceworks LPFP
-Dorch Stage 2 HPFP
-Dorch 38% Lift Kit
-Bosch S63 EU5 Injectors
-MHD CANBUS Flex Fuel Sensor
-Custom Flex Fuel E85 Tune
-Nexsys B58 Coils and Brackets


Drivetrain Support:

-Revshift Black Engine Mounts
-Driveshaft Pro Rear Driveshaft
-BMS Rear Diff Support


Other Misc Supporting Mods

-VRSF 7.5” Race Intercooler
-VRSF Catless DP
-Active Autowork Chargepipe
-Turbosmart BOV
-Valvetronic Axle Back

Enjoy the pictures!!

I will be dropping the pistons off at the machine shop today so they can bore the block to the pistons. I will also be dropping the head off at the same time for their machine work.

[LA1Z24]

Got a plan for the transmission? You're AWD so XHP is def not going to cut it. E85 caused my zf8 to go pop before I put the big turbo on.

[scottygrape]

Originally Posted by LA1Z24

Got a plan for the transmission? You're AWD so XHP is def not going to cut it. E85 caused my zf8 to go pop before I put the big turbo on.

For now I plan on limiting torque to 3rd and 5th to 600 ft lbs through XHP. I should have mentioned it’s got XHP Stage 3. When funds recoup I plan on getting a built trans through Pure. So far this build has costed me over 10k so I’m gana try and wait a bit.

I have done a ton of full send launches with the PS2 so hopefully the ZF likes the 750 just as much lol

[n55david]

It's so weird for me to see this 😆 and see a picture I didn't take...

Gonna be cool af..

[scottygrape]

Mail Call!! CP pistons came in the mail today. Jeepers these things are shiny. Dropped them off at the machine shop so they can finish boring/honing. Gotta finish taking the valves out of the head so when I go to get the block I can drop off the head.

[Spooly]

Surprised to see the heat markings on your crankshaft, looks like it got quite hot, did you have a bearing failure?

[435gc]

Originally Posted by scottygrape

For now I plan on limiting torque to 3rd and 5th to 600 ft lbs through XHP. I should have mentioned it’s got XHP Stage 3. When funds recoup I plan on getting a built trans through Pure. So far this build has costed me over 10k so I’m gana try and wait a bit.

I have done a ton of full send launches with the PS2 so hopefully the ZF likes the 750 just as much lol

Curious why you chose 600ftlbs as your limit. XHP has the preset for awd limits at like 800ish. It that what you have had your ps2 limited at as well? Also why 5th? Isn't 6th the weak gear?

Do you have a log from that Dragy run?

Thanks for creating this thread.

[scottygrape]

Originally Posted by Spooly

Surprised to see the heat markings on your crankshaft, looks like it got quite hot, did you have a bearing failure?

Nope. Crank looked flawless. Those heat marks are actually from BMWs crankshaft manufacturing process. It’s either from milling or heat treatment. See the attached picture of a brand new n55 crank. Looks identical.

[scottygrape]

Originally Posted by 435gc

Curious why you chose 600ftlbs as your limit. XHP has the preset for awd limits at like 800ish. It that what you have had your ps2 limited at as well? Also why 5th? Isn't 6th the weak gear?

Do you have a log from that Dragy run?

Thanks for creating this thread.

A couple of guys I know that are reputable in the 335xi community recommended that value. And I’m sorry. I meant 6th gear not 5th.

I do not have a log of that run. But I believe the car was right around 20psi.

[n55david]

Originally Posted by scottygrape

A couple of guys I know that are reputable in the 335xi community recommended that value. And I’m sorry. I meant 6th gear not 5th.

I do not have a log of that run. But I believe the car was right around 20psi.

Should have been about 20-21

[thejeremyman9]

Can you run that LPFP on stock EKP?

[scottygrape]

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

Can you run that LPFP on stock EKP?

Yes. I believe Precision Raceworks has done some studies on this and found that the walbro 535 draws less amps than the 525. The difference between the 2 pumps is the 535 does not have a check valve (doesn’t need one if it’s the primary pump) so it draws less.

[n55david]

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

Can you run that LPFP on stock EKP?

Yes

[AmuroRay]

All this for a Dinan turbo. tsk tsk

[n55david]

Originally Posted by AmuroRay

All this for a Dinan turbo. tsk tsk

Don't hate, Dinan is the best option for everything.. literally everything.

[scottygrape]

Got the head fully disassembled. Cleaned off all the valves via a bronze wire wheel on my bench grinder. It’s crazy how hard it is to remove 100k miles worth of carbon build up. Hopefully I will be picking up my block from the machine shop and dropping the head off soon.

I have also been doing research on an 8hp70 swap with these higher power levels. I have some feelers out to source a good trans. We will see what comes of it.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Sub'd

[RVA_N55_Fan]

Originally Posted by n55david

Yes

Fwiw I may of had some odd issue w my 535... Ekp burnt thru tophats twice at the ground pin. So I found a bpm4 and issue was resolved. Perhaps due to the 22-25psi I ran occasionally but figured I'd share.

[scottygrape]

Mail Call!!! Got my Nexsys Motorsports B58 Coil Kit, BMS Rear Diff Support Kit and MHD Canbus Ethanol Content Analyzer!

[Shaggz]

this looks fun

[scottygrape]

So tonight I installed the BMS rear diff brace. For some reason the spacers were not long enough and the bracket would hit the fill plug. I tried contacting BMS about this via email a few days ago and they have not replied.

Instead I just added (2) 3/8” washers on each one and it fit about perfect.

After that I started lapping the valves. I decided against having the valves reground and the seats recut. The reason is after thinking about it I didn’t want to change the valve train geometry by sucking the valves further into the head. And the seats/valves were still in pretty good shape. So I will finish lapping the valves and then give it to my machine shop for a hot tank and a resurfacing.

Sounds like my block should be done middle of next week so hopefully I can assemble the bottom end next weekend.

[scottygrape]

Finished lapping all the valves. See before and after pictures of the valves and the seats. Numbered and documented all valves to put back in the same holes after the machine shop is done hot tanking and decking the head.