[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW N55 Engine Wins 2014 Engine of the Year Award 2.5-3.0L Category

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The 2014 Engine of the Year Awards have just been announced in Stuttgart, Germany today and taking home the prize for best engine in the 2.5-Liter to 3-Liter category is the BMW N55 twin-power turbo 6-cylinder engine. BMW six-cylinder designs have picked up this trophy nine times in the last 10 years, and 13 times overall.

This engine is currently used in nearly all models across BMW's range - the BMW 135i, 640i, 740i (320ps), 235i (326ps), 335i, 435i, Z4 35i, 535i, X3 35i, X5 35i and X6 35i (306ps)).

The power of this 3.0 twin power turbo is all you need for a very fast car,” enthused Spanish judge Arturo de Andrés. “Besides that, you also have the wonderful sound of a six-cylinder as well as exceptional driveability.” Jason Cammisa from Automobile Magazine was one of many judges to be impressed: “BMW’s straight six as a petrol or diesel, conventional or hybrid, connected to a manual, DCT, or automatic, is simply the best, most refined powertrain most of us will ever experience.”

Other BMW Engines

BMW managed to land another 3 engines in the same category, with the BMW S55 from the new M3/M4 coming in 3rd place, the diesel N57D in 5th place and the diesel N57S in 6th place.

Taking top prize in the 1.4L to 1.8L category is the 1.6L turbo petrol motor from the MINI.

The BMW i3's two cylinder engine range-extender and full-electric powertrain came in 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in the Green Engine category.

This award, one of the annual highlights of the automotive industry calendar, is judged by an 82 person panel of international experts to have achieved excellence in powertrain engineering. See the entire list of categories and winners at: http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/index.php

[Falafel Combo]

First!


Zero surprises. Phenomenal performance, legendary inline 6 BMW sound and reliability to boot. I'm sure most n55 owners would agree. Great job and congrats BMW!

[rjpeaks]

kewl

[DVC]

N55 FTW... nice

[snowghost]

Some other car mag said it's the best engine in any car under $100k.

[visor]

Originally Posted by snowghost

Some other car mag said it's the best engine in any car under $100k.

That's before they got a chance to try the S55 in the new M3/4.

[DVC]

Originally Posted by visor

That's before they got a chance to try the S55 in the new M3/4.

Did you not read the bit in the OP about the S55 coming in 3rd?

[visor]

Originally Posted by DVC

Did you not read the bit in the OP about the S55 coming in 3rd?

I did. But given a choice of N55 or S55 engine for "any car under $100000" as the poster and magazine mentioned, I know without any hesitation which one I'd choose.

[BimmerBoomer]

Originally Posted by DVC

Did you not read the bit in the OP about the S55 coming in 3rd?

Personally I walked away from the new M3 feeling that the anti-lag feature could do with more development. The N55 with MPPK has crisper initial response. Of course, no comparison once the S55 spools up. On a side note, I wasn't too impressed with the "new" DCT from the M5/M6 either: I prefer both the DCT in my old 2010 M3 coupe and the 8 AT in my 2014 435i xDrive. But I'm sure BMW will iron out these niggles before I pick up a 2016 or 2017 M4.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by BimmerBoomer

Personally I walked away from the new M3 feeling that the anti-lag feature could do with more development. The N55 with MPPK has crisper initial response. Of course, no comparison once the S55 spools up. On a side note, I wasn't too impressed with the "new" DCT from the M5/M6 either: I prefer both the DCT in my old 2010 M3 coupe and the 8 AT in my 2014 435i xDrive. But I'm sure BMW will iron out these niggles before I pick up a 2016 or 2017 M4.

I think your research in comparing the f82 to the f32 has been impeccable. Comparing (and even making some excellent conclusions) these two fine BMW's. One which you actually had a chance to drive and thoroughly test (f32), and the other one (f82) apparently purely as a figment of your imagination. Some folks have that unique ability. Just to make shit up, form opinion based on said made-up shit and even make actual real life decisions.

References: See quoted in bold.


Just busting your imaginary chops.

[335BOY]

Didnt the N54 win as well................just sayin.............

[fujitashi]

I'm sure most n55 owners would agree.

[BimmerBoomer]

Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i

Some folks have that unique ability. Just to make shit up, form opinion based on said made-up shit and even make actual real life decisions.

References: See quoted in bold.


Just busting your imaginary chops.

Perhaps if you had driven an F80 DCT and a 435i xDrive 8 AT you'd have a different opinion - perhaps not. Interestingly Evo came to a remarkably similar comparison to the one I would make in comparing the M4 DCT to the Jaguar F-type S coupe. Up to about 9/10ths I prefer the 435i, then it falls apart fairly suddenly, just as the F80/F82 comes into its own. Since I seldom stray into the 9/10ths territory I'm not sure I'll be buying a fourth M3 or first M4.

[300hp]

No one with an N55 can argue with this best engine award

Inline 6 FTW

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by 300hp

No one with an N55 can argue with this best engine award

Inline 6 FTW

+1

[Ryan T.]

Originally Posted by 335BOY

Didnt the N54 win as well................just sayin.............

and it was a monster of an engine - just a nightmare to own.

[JJS]

Originally Posted by 300hp

No one with an N55 can argue with this best engine award

Inline 6 FTW

+2

[DVC]

I wonder if this will quell some of the detractors of the N55-powered M2...

[FC4]

You guys do remember that over 20 years ago, Toyota made a 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine which made just as much power but was infinitely times more reliable and was build to withstand 2x the factory power on all stock components...right? One would hope that 20 years of advancement in variable valve-timing, fuel delivery, engine software, and turbo technology would produce significantly more power and efficiency out of an engine with the same displacement and configuration. But nope.

Perhaps I don't get the N55 cheerleading. There is nothing wrong with the engine, but I can't say there is anything amazing about it which stands out at me either. Perhaps if it had a more inspiring power-band or noise, things would be different. Realistically, it's just a mass-produced I6 to me.

[DVC]

Originally Posted by FC4

You guys do remember that over 20 years ago, Toyota made a 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine which made just as much power but was infinitely times more reliable and was build to withstand 2x the factory power on all stock components...right? One would hope that 20 years of advancement in variable valve-timing, fuel delivery, engine software, and turbo technology would produce significantly more power and efficiency out of an engine with the same displacement and configuration. But nope.

Perhaps I don't get the N55 cheerleading. There is nothing wrong with the engine, but I can't say there is anything amazing about it which stands out at me either. Perhaps if it had a more inspiring power-band or noise, things would be different. Realistically, it's just a mass-produced I6 to me.

C'mon now - it's an "award-winning" mass-produced I-6...

[FC4]

Originally Posted by DVC

C'mon now - it's an "award-winning" mass-produced I-6...

Hah! I guess it's clever on their end (whoever gave the "award") to create many defined sub-categories in order to make everyone happy. 2.5 to 3.0 is pretty damn limiting, so sure...it gets the award. I wonder who won the highly competitive 1.5 to 1.8 liter award! I bet they're gleaming with some excitement.

[300hp]

Originally Posted by FC4

Hah! I guess it's clever on their end (whoever gave the "award") to create many defined sub-categories in order to make everyone happy. 2.5 to 3.0 is pretty damn limiting, so sure...it gets the award. I wonder who won the highly competitive 1.5 to 1.8 liter award! I bet they're gleaming with some excitement.

If you consider that the Porsche engines and Audi engines are in the category you realize it's a tough crowd