Video: How to fix the oiling issues found in the BMW N55

Chris
Update by Chris Tropea to the BMW 435i project car
Sep 28, 2024 | BMW, BMW 435i

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Photography Credit: Tradd Slayton

The N55 engine–like the one in our BMW 435i–is notorious for having oiling issues.

Here's how we fixed those issues with help from BimmerWorld.

 

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Comments
NIKOLAT
NIKOLAT New Reader
9/28/24 5:55 p.m.

This seems like a lot of monkey motion to get good oiling.  I confess not being an expert on BMWs, but I did race an ELva Mk VII DSR with a dry sump equipped engine which never had a problem with oiling during heavy braking or acceleration.  If possible why not go to a complete dry sump conversion? If no kit is available, perhaps you could devise a conversion.  Good luck and enjoy  racing!

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
9/28/24 9:24 p.m.
NIKOLAT said:

This seems like a lot of monkey motion to get good oiling.  I confess not being an expert on BMWs, but I did race an ELva Mk VII DSR with a dry sump equipped engine which never had a problem with oiling during heavy braking or acceleration.  If possible why not go to a complete dry sump conversion? If no kit is available, perhaps you could devise a conversion.  Good luck and enjoy  racing!

It's a bit of an involved fix, but the reason we went this way instead of trying to work out a dry sump on our own was that BMW had already done our homework for us. This is the same oiling setup that they put in the M235iR N55-powered factory race cars, which are frequently praised for their extreme reliability. Rather than try and reinvent the wheel, we went with the off-the-shelf know good solution.

The other issue with a dry sump would be packaging. The engine bay on these things is TIGHT. Trying to find a spot to hang another rotating accessory would be difficult if we wanted to retain the a/c. Then we'd still need to fabricate a custom pan, find room for a tank, and run the plumbing. Maybe if it ever gets converted to a full-on race car that'll be an option, as we can just leverage interior or trunk space for needed bits. But as a dual-purpose street/track car, BMW's solution was our best call I think.

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