In the section below are reviews from owners of BMW cars with M54 engines. If you have experience with BMW M54 models, feel free to share it with others by submitting a review through the comments form. Once moderated, it will be published.
Review of the BMW M54 Engine
Hello everyone! When I was considering which engine to choose for the E60, at first, I wanted the N series, 272 or 308 hp in a reinforced version. In my opinion, the M54 is the most optimal version of the inline six-cylinder engine. It was last installed on the E60, and only in this case, it is refined and demonstrates relative reliability.
According to numerous forums I've read, to ensure normal oil and fuel consumption, as well as good power, attention should be paid to things like electronic engine diagnostics, preferably with endoscopy, inspection of catalysts and exhaust valves, compression testing.
Also, crucial are the data from lambda sensors, ignition timing angles, injection timing, and much more.
The M54 is a further development in the inline six-cylinder engine series. The cylinder block is made of an aluminum alloy with a cast iron liner with thin walls. This allowed the surface resource to approach that of the M50 again, with the possibility of oversize repairs.
However, the M54 has small oil ring clearances, leading to oil consumption reaching 1 liter per 1000 km at around 200,000 km. Its pistons rarely burn, this is more related to exhaust valves.
On this type of engines, as well as on all subsequent ones, the Double Vanos system is installed, the task of which is to control the camshaft positions. The main problem, not only faced by me, is incorrect camshaft phasing during low-quality repairs.
According to many experts, one of the most common issues is misfires during warm-up. The problem lies in the fact that among all the parts, after starting the engine, a rapid temperature increase is characteristic only for the valves.
The control unit monitors and does not allow a cylinder to operate with low efficiency, as a result, the engine will be shut down, and an error code will be displayed on the screen.
In the end, for the M54 version to function properly, I had to replace almost everything, except perhaps the pistons. It is advisable to start with spark plugs and finish with chains and hydraulic lifters. The engines themselves did not cause me any complaints, they are of good quality and with sufficient power, but they require quality maintenance.
Review of the M54 Engine
I have purchased my second E60, and the first one had the M54 engine as the power unit. I cannot say anything negative about it in terms of power. I bought it with a mileage of 172,000 kilometers, and during all this time, there has been no complaint about it, it worked like a charm.
I drove it quite a lot, covering about 30,000 kilometers in half a year. I only had to replace the heater valves, oil level sensor, and water pump along with the thermostat. Apart from that, the engine itself performed exceptionally well.
In my opinion, the M54 is the most reliable of BMW's gasoline engines. However, a drawback of it, as well as many other similar engines, is the excessive increase in motor oil consumption, reaching 1 liter per thousand kilometers, which is already considered the norm.
Despite the option of replacing oil separators and their low cost, the work is very expensive, around 70,000, so it is much easier to periodically top up the oil. That's why I opted for the diesel version, and I am not disappointed at all.
Review of BMW with the M54 Engine
In my opinion, one of the most successful engines from BMW. The positive qualities include a large number of tuning possibilities, while the negative is the high fuel consumption.
The first thing I would like to say about the engine is that it was purchased with mileage, but it completely fulfilled its expected life cycle. The second point is the very rapid oil consumption, so there's no need to panic about its high rate of depletion, as it's normal for this engine.
Additionally, the engine may overheat or misfire, which can be caused by excessively active operation or simply clogging of the radiator or cooling system. It is essential to simply monitor the ignition system's operation.
For those who love tuning, there are numerous possibilities in the car, such as increasing power by installing a turbocharger, for example. Therefore, for car enthusiasts who have already purchased this vehicle or are planning to do so, it will be difficult to find a better option for personal use. Another significant advantage is the easy upgrade potential at a relatively low overall cost.
