Filed under: Maintenance, BMW
BMW finally acknowledges turbo lag, will update software
Countless BMW owners have been frustrated for some time with software-induced turbo lag on their N54 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-6 engines. While early models were acclaimed for their immediate power delivery, it seems BMW felt it necessary to address "specific noise concerns" with the engine and made software changes in models built between June 2006 and March 2008. Those changes introduced turbo lag – the noticeable delay between the throttle and the time it takes for the turbocharger to spin and produce power. Enthusiasts were up in arms, but BMW refused to recognize their concerns (addressed on nearly every BMW message board, and by the BMW Car Club of America)... until now. According to a statement from the automaker, new software will be released in January 2009 that will restore the original turbocharger response. Of course, it comes with a warning that it may result in "slightly increased engine noise levels." As if an enthusiast cares... Thanks for the tip Michael!
[Source: BimmerFile]
BMW North America Statement:
"In an effort to address specific noise concerns, BMW updated the turbocharged engine software on 335i/xi and 535i/xi models built from June 2006 through March 2008. The updated software causes a small amount of increased "turbocharger lag" under certain circumstances and, while not substantial, the lag may be perceptible to the most sensitive BMW drivers. X6, 135i, and 3 Series/5 Series vehicles from March 2008 production onward are not affected. Release of the new software to restore the original turbocharger response is planned for January 2009, and it will be available for vehicles produced from September 2007 through March 2008 when they are brought to an authorized BMW center for a repair which requires a programming update. Clients with vehicles produced from June 2006 through September 2007 may request installation of the January 2009 software update. Clients who get this update should understand that there is a possibility of slightly increased engine noise levels under certain circumstances."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
wrussi 4:33PM (11/18/2008)
i wish honda did this for the 04-08 acura TSX DBW lag.
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zamafir 4:36PM (11/18/2008)
I wish BMW just did more R&D at the start to deal with the oil cooler issue well before it became the problem it is now and subtle things like this turbo lag.
why not the LS2LS7? 4:47PM (11/18/2008)
I hear ya. Look up the issues with the 2000 Audi S4, another German twin-turbo 6. I'm not terribly impressed with the thoroughness of German engineering. Maybe it just comes down to "never buy a first year anything", but it would have been nice to not have the problems I did (and they were minor next to what some S4 people had).
Noah 4:35PM (11/18/2008)
Why not just take each owner who complained about the 'engine noise' and give them an X5, or better yet a Lexus, instead? Clearly they weren't meant to own a real BMW.
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RamblinReck89 4:47PM (11/18/2008)
If you can still hear the radio, the engine is not loud enough.
hyundaifans.com 4:52PM (11/18/2008)
To a person who shells out for a BMW (i.e. sportiness), suggesting they get a Lexus (i.e corners like a boat) is the ultimate crime punishable by death. :)
Jim 5:47PM (11/18/2008)
?? Paid 50k for a no lag car, BMW detunes car with 'upgraded' software that keeps wastegates open until 2800rpm thus causing 'lag' which BMW said had been eliminated in it's entirety thus convincing customer to buy car. Customer complains and thus doesn't deserve to own a BMW? What planet are you from?
Mez Jr 7:07PM (11/18/2008)
@Jim
Be cool dude, he said to give a SUV or a Lexus to the people who complained about the NOISE (wusses) not the people who complained about the lag (justified).
Mobius_1 7:23PM (11/18/2008)
Since we can't punish him by death (unless someone tracks his IP and then some) he will be punished by low ranking.
Doug 10:50PM (11/18/2008)
I'm confused why Noah is getting a low raking. His comment seems perfectly logical to me. If the person is worried their car is making too much noise, put them in a nice quiet Lexus. If a person wants a car that is (or at least used to be) built on the essence of pure driving enjoyment (AKA a "drivers machine") then they are not concerned with the noise being too loud... especially on a car that already has enough emissions equipment to pass California smog tests.
slicecom 4:46PM (11/18/2008)
People who buy a BMW, then complain about engine noise are the exact same people who make me not ever want to buy one, for fear of being associated with them.
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why not the LS2LS7? 4:50PM (11/18/2008)
People who would base their opinion on buying a car on their perceptions of other people who buy the same car are the kind of person that makes me realize I buy cars for me, not for others.
slicecom 9:13PM (11/18/2008)
My perception and reality are closer than you may think.
montoym 9:00PM (11/18/2008)
One of the big probelms with the B5 S4 was blown turbos. Due to the fact that they are not vetilated well, they don't cool well and it can shorten the life significantly.
It's due to the engine being placed in a smaller car. The A6 versions didn't suffer the same fate since it has a larger engine bay and better packaging.
For whatever reason though, those who have replaced the stock turbos with the larger ones from the RS4 haven't had the same issues. So, the turbo may have played a role as well.
zamafir 8:16PM (11/18/2008)
Very true, it's just that the B5 S4 is over a decade old, 11 years later I would hope a bi turbo six from BMW wouldn't be falling flat on it's face after 15 minutes at a track day due to some shoddy engineering. Maybe you're right, Maybe Germans just suck at bi-turbos... though I've not read of any wide spread issues with the previous gen bi-turbo V8 RS6 – or issues with most of the Bentley range (talking engine here). I guess we should be fair and give BMW a decade to figure it out.
shaddai 5:04PM (11/18/2008)
BMW is not being forthcoming with information here. I have a 08 335i built in April 2008 and I have the lag issue they claim I don't have.
The original "engine noise", by the way, was a very bad sounding metallic rattle of the wastegates not being fully closed and rattling against their seals. Very un-befitting for such an expensive car. Search on YouTube for "335i wastegate rattle" and perhaps you'll agree.
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Andre 4:54AM (11/19/2008)
Well every turbo charged car from some dudes Honda, to your BMW, or my Porsche will have lag. Even with VarioCam and similar technology to reduce the lag, it's still going to be there.
And engine noise "Very un-befitting for such an expensive car"? Yeah... it's not an expensive car; if it was an expensive car you wouldn't have a rattle in the first place and I wouldn't know people who have gone bankrupt multiple times and still have a 3 series.
Adam Marcello 5:26PM (11/18/2008)
That sure is a lot of serpentine belt on that motor. Id sure hate to replace that.
Its good to see BMW admit their wrong doing. I cant imagine that more people complained about engine noise than turbo lag.
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whofan 5:59PM (11/18/2008)
Want a real sportscar buy a Vette!
German engineering didn`t do Chrysler any favors when Diamler destroyed them.
Overrated .
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Razor 6:30PM (11/18/2008)
Next up, BMW admits surging issues in R1100XX engines.
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