N54 cylinder head swap and re-coding injectors

surrey 335i · 10-16-2013, 07:06 AM

Question for the N54 tech' experts on here , anyone swapped heads?

I have been offered a nice low mileage complete cylinder head from a 335i, it comes with everything ready to bolt back on - just as removed from the car.

I am tempted to take this and replace my current head which is running fine but at such high mileage (190,000 miles) it might be worth changing over (or just keeping a spare).

Will the replacement head be an easy swop, or will things need re-coding to my car? like injectors?

Davyhay · 10-16-2013, 07:25 AM

Wow, man. I would love to know everything that's been done to your car repair wise. I have 97K and wonder what the future holds. Sorry, I am not trying to hijack.

surrey 335i · 10-16-2013, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davyhay

Wow, man. I would love to know everything that's been done to your car repair wise. I have 97K and wonder what the future holds. Sorry, I am not trying to hijack.

Its been amazingly reliable, still on original turbos and clutch and suspension at 190k miles, just had normal BMW servicing.

Coil packs have been changed a couple of times, water pump once.

JMARS · 10-16-2013, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surrey 335i

Question for the N54 tech' experts on here , anyone swapped heads?

I have been offered a nice low mileage complete cylinder head from a 335i, it comes with everything ready to bolt back on - just as removed from the car.

I am tempted to take this and replace my current head which is running fine but at such high mileage (190,000 miles) it might be worth changing over (or just keeping a spare).

Will the replacement head be an easy swop, or will things need re-coding to my car? like injectors?

I've heard from a local shop that swaping heads is a "28 Hour Job"... Crazy expensive. Dont know how reliable that figure is though.

King mode · 10-16-2013, 10:30 AM

my suggestion is if its not broken, don't fix it. However, keep that head for down the road if you plan to put another 100k on her. Nice job keeping the car up to snuff.

surrey 335i · 10-16-2013, 10:36 AM

If its a huge job then yes would leave along and keep the spare head somewhere safe just in case.

A 28 hour job sounds a bit crazy to me!
But hopefuly someone on here has done before and can confirm one way or the other.

I was thinking swapping the head is not much more work than doing a head gasket? How much to do a head gasket on an N54?

David1 · 10-16-2013, 12:48 PM

Easier to remove the motor on that job.

Dave W. · 10-16-2013, 04:06 PM

Yes it's a long job to R+R a head. It also requires special tools to locate the cam towers in position since there's no dowels to line them up.
Def not a DIY job.
It's almost cheaper to buy a good used engine and swap the whole engine.

10-16-2013, 07:06 AM	#1
surrey 335i Lieutenant 22 Rep 451 Posts Drives: 335i E91 sport, 123d + others Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: surrey iTrader: (1)	N54 cylinder head swap and re-coding injectors Question for the N54 tech' experts on here , anyone swapped heads? I have been offered a nice low mileage complete cylinder head from a 335i, it comes with everything ready to bolt back on - just as removed from the car. I am tempted to take this and replace my current head which is running fine but at such high mileage (190,000 miles) it might be worth changing over (or just keeping a spare). Will the replacement head be an easy swop, or will things need re-coding to my car? like injectors?
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10-16-2013, 07:25 AM	#2
Davyhay First Lieutenant 33 Rep 316 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Montgomery, AL. iTrader: (1)	Wow, man. I would love to know everything that's been done to your car repair wise. I have 97K and wonder what the future holds. Sorry, I am not trying to hijack.
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10-16-2013, 10:30 AM	#5
King mode First Lieutenant 8 Rep 374 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: May 2012 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	my suggestion is if its not broken, don't fix it. However, keep that head for down the road if you plan to put another 100k on her. Nice job keeping the car up to snuff. __________________ 2008 335xi AT Cobb AP stage 1, drop in filter, the rest stock 13.10@106.01 w/ 1.86 60' (5,800' altitude)
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10-16-2013, 10:36 AM	#6
surrey 335i Lieutenant 22 Rep 451 Posts Drives: 335i E91 sport, 123d + others Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: surrey iTrader: (1)	If its a huge job then yes would leave along and keep the spare head somewhere safe just in case. A 28 hour job sounds a bit crazy to me! But hopefuly someone on here has done before and can confirm one way or the other. I was thinking swapping the head is not much more work than doing a head gasket? How much to do a head gasket on an N54?
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10-16-2013, 12:48 PM	#7
David1 Brigadier General 814 Rep 3,953 Posts Drives: 09 E92 09 X5 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (1)	Easier to remove the motor on that job. __________________ 2021 M2 Comp Sunset Orange \|Black with orange Stitching Dakota Leather\|Executive Pkg\|DCT
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10-16-2013, 04:06 PM	#8
Dave W. Lieutenant 5 Rep 538 Posts Drives: Porsche 951, 1992 Eagle Talon Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Yes it's a long job to R+R a head. It also requires special tools to locate the cam towers in position since there's no dowels to line them up. Def not a DIY job. It's almost cheaper to buy a good used engine and swap the whole engine.
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