BMW N55

The BMW N55 is a turbocharged straight-six petrol (gasoline) engine that began production in 2009. The N55 replaced the BMW N54 engine and was introduced in the F07 5 Series Gran Turismo.

The N55 was BMW's first straight-six engine to use a twin-scroll turbocharger. It also won three straight Ward's 10 Best Engines awards in 2011–2013.

Following the introduction of the BMW B58 engine in 2015, the N55 began to be phased out.

The BMW S55 engine is a high performance version of the N55 made by BMW M GmbH, which is used by the F80 M3, F82 M4 and F87 M2 Competition/CS.

Design
The main differences between the N55 and its N54 predecessor are the use of a single turbocharger, the addition of Valvetronic and the type of fuel injectors. Whilst the N54 used a twin-turbo arrangement, the newer N55 uses only a single twin scroll turbocharger. Valvetronic (variable valve lift) is claimed to improve throttle response, low-rev torque, exhaust emissions and to reduce fuel consumption by 15%. The direct injection system uses solenoid-type injectors, instead of the piezo-type fuel injectors used by its N54 predecessor. The piezo injectors were more expensive and BMW decided they were not worthwhile outside of Europe, because the potential benefits of lean-burn operation could not be fully realised.

The exhaust manifold design, called Cylinder-bank Comprehensive Manifold (CCM) by BMW, aims to reduce the pressure fluctuations to reduce throttle lag and exhaust back-pressure. The twin-scroll turbocharger uses 2 sets of exhaust duct to turn 1 turbine wheel, with cylinders 1–3 and 4–6. The engine management system is Bosch MEVD 17.2, and compatible fuels are ROZ (RON) 91–98 octane (minimum RON 95 is recommended),

As per the N54, the compression ratio is 10.2:1, the bore is 84.0 mm, the stroke is 89.6 mm and the displacement is 2979 cc.

N55B30M0
Applications:
 * 2009–2017 F10/F11/F07 535i
 * 2010–2013 E90/E91/E92/E93 335i
 * 2010–2013 E82/E88 135i
 * 2010–2017 F25 X3 xDrive35i
 * 2011–2013 E70 X5 xDrive 35i
 * 2011–2015 F30/F31 335i
 * 2011–2014 E71 X6 xDrive 35i
 * 2012–2015 E84 X1 xDrive35i
 * 2013–2016 F32/F33/F36 435i
 * 2014–2018 F15 X5 xDrive 35i
 * 2014–2019 F16 X6 xDrive35i
 * 2014–2016 F26 X4 xDrive 35i

N55B30
Applications:
 * 2011–2018 F06/F12/F13 640i
 * 2012–2013 E82/E88 135is
 * 2012–2015 F20/F21 M135i
 * 2012–2015 F01/F02 740i/Li

N55B30O0
Applications:
 * 2013–2016 F22/F23 M235i
 * 2015–2016 F20/F21 M135i LCI

N55HP
Applications:
 * 2013–2015 F30 ActiveHybrid 3
 * 2011–2016 F10 ActiveHybrid 5

N55B30T0
Applications:
 * 2016–2018 F87 M2 — 272 kW
 * 2015–2018 F26 X4 M40i — 265 kW

Alpina
Biturbo engine by Alpina based on the N55B30M0. The crankcase is of a different design and specially cast by BMW for Alpina.

301 kW version
The N55R20A is Alpina's initial version of the N55, producing 301 kW. The twin turbocharger system of the N54B30 is used, replacing the twin-scroll charging system originally applied.

Applications:
 * 2013–2017 Alpina F30 B3 Bi-Turbo
 * 2013–2017 Alpina F33/F34 B4 Bi-Turbo

324 kW version
Applications:
 * 2017–present Alpina F30/F31 B3 S Bi-Turbo
 * 2017–present Alpina F32/F33 B4 S Bi-Turbo

332 kW version
Application:


 * 2018–present Alpina F32/F33 B4 S Bi-Turbo Edition 99

S55 engine
The S55 engine is the high performance version engine developed from the N55 engine by BMW M. It was introduced in the F80 M3, F82 M4 and later to the F87 M2 Competition/CS, replacing the BMW S65 naturally aspirated V8 engine used in the previous generation M3.

Differences compared with the N55 include a closed-deck engine block, lightweight crankshaft, different crankshaft bearings, strengthened pistons/rods, different springs/valve material, twin turbos, twin fuel pumps, active exhaust, revised cooling system and intercoolers.

205 kW – 268 kW version
Applications:
 * 2020–present F87 M2 CS Racing

302 kW, 550 Nm version
Applications:
 * 2019–2021 F87 M2 Competition

317 kW version
Applications:
 * 2014–2018 F80 M3
 * 2014–2020 F82/F83 M4

331 kW version
Applications:
 * 2016–2018 F80 M3 with Competition package
 * 2016–2020 F82/F83 M4 with Competition package
 * 2020–2021 F87 M2 CS

338 kW version
Applications:
 * 2018 F80 M3 CS
 * 2017–2020 F82 M4 CS

368 kW version
This version produces 368 kW and 600 Nm, due to the use of a water injection system. Three water injectors are used to lower the temperature of the air in the intake manifold, allowing the boost pressure to be increased from 17.2 psi to 21.6 psi.

Applications:
 * 2015–2016 F82 M4 GTS
 * 2017 F82 M4 DTM Champion Edition