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- The BMW 335i Was The First To Have Two Turbos
- BMW's Iconic And Influential N54 Engine
- The BMW 335i Lost Its Twin-Turbo Straight Six Not Long After Its Debut
- What You'll Pay For BMW's First Twin-Turbo Model Today
While BMW certainly used to favor naturally aspirated engines, the German automaker has been relying on boosted fours and sixes much more frequently over the last 20 years. BMW has experimented with different ways in which the turbocharged inline-six, in particular, can be bettered over the years. At one point, the brand even used distilled water to extract more power from a turbocharged straight-six.
While boosted six-cylinders, like the B58 and S58, are common across much of the BMW model range today, that wasn't always the case. In fact, the first BMW to ever wield two turbochargers didn't arrive until 2007. It was introduced not long before BMW released its final naturally aspirated straight-six-powered model, and could be had under the hood of its hottest non-M 3 Series model.
The BMW 335i Was The First To Have Two Turbos
BMW
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, BMW had solidified its reputation for building sublime naturally aspirated inline six-cylinder engines. One of the most convincing models to reinforce that reputation was the BMW E46 M3, powered by the high-revving S54B32 3.2-liter naturally aspirated inline-six-cylinder engine that mustered more than 330 horsepower, which was directed straight to its rear axle.
BMW
However, on the heels of that mighty straight-six, BMW would start dabbling in forced induction. BMW may have started experimenting with boosted V8 engines like the N63, but alongside those also came the first BMW twin-turbocharged straight-six engine. It powered the fifth-generation 3 Series's second-highest-ranking model, the 335i, which played second fiddle only to the flagship M3.
The BMW 335i was the most powerful model in the 3 Series range without an M badge, delivering 300 horsepower from its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine. It was a new member of the BMW 3 Series range, sitting just above the 330i trim, which was naturally aspirated — much like the M3. As such, the 335i stood out as somewhat of an anomaly in the E90 range.
BMW
Aside from performance, the BMW 335i was priced as an affordable and appealing alternative to the BMW E92 M3, with the coupe priced at $44,020, while the M3 of that generation had an MSRP of $64,270. The BMW 335i would be kept alive, in one form or another, for six years, bowing out before the BMW E92 M3, but the highlight and centerpiece of the BMW 335i was its beating heart, the BMW N54.
BMW's Iconic And Influential N54 Engine
BMW
As the first twin-turbocharged power plant from BMW, it's no surprise that it is considered one of the most influential and impactful engines the Bavarian automaker has ever produced. The N54 paved the way for modern turbocharged engines, with each turbocharger responsible for three cylinders. The benefit of this system was that it provided a more economical way to extract more power from its inline six-cylinder engine, while also allowing the entire power unit to weigh less than the 4.0-liter V8 engine used in the BMW E92 M3.
While this forced induction system was a monumental addition to BMW's engine architecture, it also boasted precision fuel injection and an all-aluminum crankcase. The pairing of its twin-turbocharger system and new fuel injection system marked a significant evolution in the technology used in BMW's power plants. By BMW's account, the N54 engine was a significant improvement in power generation and fuel economy.
Read the full article on CarBuzz
This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
