ULEV N20 vs N26 SULEV

Hi,

I plan to order a 328 very soon. I was reading about N20 vs N26 at the last minute and was wondering if I can choose which one I want. Are N26s only for the States with stricter emission requirements or if I prefer, can I get that in my State (Texas) as well? Has anyone outside those States successfully order N26 on their vehicles?

Thanks.

Im sure if you asked for one, you could order it. But, I would stick with the N20 as it has slightly less restriction in intake and exhaust flow and has more mods available if you plan to upgrade. I have an N26 and came off an N20. Either choice is a great engine.

California has very strict emission standards and I've seen both N20 and N26 being ordered by California residents. I'm assuming either one is emission compliant in all 50 states. It seems you can choose whichever one you want. Joker is right, I've seen mods (exhaust for instance) that will fit the N20 but not, yet, the N26. I ordered the N26 as I don't really plan to mod. The cost and power output seem to be identical for both.

Thanks a lot for your replies.

I've just read on F30 Post a couple of people mentioning that they feel like the N26 has more power although none of them knows the exact number. I've also seen one post whose poster is convinced that the N26 has 0 turbo lag.

Can anyone with experience with both engines confirm or deny such claims?

I think claims like this would be heavily subjective and highly dependent on the mode, driver, and other factors. But, as you asked, I'd love to hear from someone with experience with both engines.

Here's a link to one such review on F30 Post.

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=756878

During my customer order, my '13 328i was named as a SULEV car. I did not question this for I believed that all of these '13 cars were such. I was never informed that this was optional. I am annoyed now knowing that I should have been informed and because I was thinking about mods down the road.

Question: I like the AFE and MagnaFlow exhaust. Will the N26 work with these systems? What about the BMS JB stage 1 or 2? PLMK.

Originally Posted by AzWildcatG

During my customer order, my '13 328i was named as a SULEV car. I did not question this for I believed that all of these '13 cars were such. I was never informed that this was optional. I am annoyed now knowing that I should have been informed and because I was thinking about mods down the road.

Question: I like the AFE and MagnaFlow exhaust. Will the N26 work with these systems? What about the BMS JB stage 1 or 2? PLMK.

Catbacks should have nothing to do whether N20 or N26 and the BMS stage 1 and JB4 work with both engines.

The differences between the N20 (7/2012 and on) and N26 are tiny. Pre 7/2012 N20 engines had a vacuum driven waste gate, where newer N20s and N26s have electronically driven waste gates.

Catalytic Converter
N26 - first monolith: 900 cpsi, second monolith: 600cpsi) "Cells Per Square Inch". There is an additional catalytic converter located under the vehicle downstream of the exhaust. This converter is not monitored and contains 400 cpsi.
N20 - 600 cpsi on the first monolith and 400 cpsi on the second.

Cylinder Head Cover
N26 oil separators are made of plastic and are very similar to those in the N20 engine. The major change to the cylinder head cover is that the crankcase pressure regulating valve is now plastic welded to the cover and no longer to be replaced separately.

High Pressure Fuel Pump
The HP pump has been slightly redesigned for the N26 engine. It has been modified by adding a groove in the outlet valve of the high pressure pump. This allows the high fuel pressure to be reduced in a short amount of time when the engine is shut off. This reduces the risk of internal and external fuel leakage.

Fuel Injectors
The fuel injectors used in the N26 are identical to the N20 and N55 from a technical point of view. The major difference is the N26 injectors are hand selected after they have been tested to insure they have the minimum amount of leakage. These are referred to as "Sorted" fuel injectors. They have a leakage rate of <0.5mm³/min @20MPa.

Fuel Line
The fuel lines have been modified to insure that no leakage occurs.

Air box
The air intake system is similar to the M56 and N51 SULEV engines. There is an additional HC fleece filter installed in the air box. This prevents hydrocarbons from escaping to the atmosphere when the engine is at rest. The HC fleece is part of the upper portion of the air box and needs to be replaced as a complete unit if damaged.

Cooling System
The radiator of the N26 SULEV looks similar to the standard F30 radiator. The surface of the cooling fins are coated with a special "PremAir" coating. The coating consists of multiple porous layers of a catalytic surface. The task of the catalyst coating is to convert Ozone into Oxygen.

Can't see anything that would cause any major concern for modding or anything that would cause more or less power.

Tim

Originally Posted by tim330i

The differences between the N20 (7/2012 and on) and N26 are tiny. Pre 7/2012 N20 engines had a vacuum driven waste gate, where newer N20s and N26s have electronically driven waste gates.

Catalytic Converter
N26 - first monolith: 900 cpsi, second monolith: 600cpsi) "Cells Per Square Inch". There is an additional catalytic converter located under the vehicle downstream of the exhaust. This converter is not monitored and contains 400 cpsi.
N20 - 600 cpsi on the first monolith and 400 cpsi on the second.

Cylinder Head Cover
N26 oil separators are made of plastic and are very similar to those in the N20 engine. The major change to the cylinder head cover is that the crankcase pressure regulating valve is now plastic welded to the cover and no longer to be replaced separately.

High Pressure Fuel Pump
The HP pump has been slightly redesigned for the N26 engine. It has been modified by adding a groove in the outlet valve of the high pressure pump. This allows the high fuel pressure to be reduced in a short amount of time when the engine is shut off. This reduces the risk of internal and external fuel leakage.

Fuel Injectors
The fuel injectors used in the N26 are identical to the N20 and N55 from a technical point of view. The major difference is the N26 injectors are hand selected after they have been tested to insure they have the minimum amount of leakage. These are referred to as "Sorted" fuel injectors. They have a leakage rate of <0.5mm³/min @20MPa.

Fuel Line
The fuel lines have been modified to insure that no leakage occurs.

Air box
The air intake system is similar to the M56 and N51 SULEV engines. There is an additional HC fleece filter installed in the air box. This prevents hydrocarbons from escaping to the atmosphere when the engine is at rest. The HC fleece is part of the upper portion of the air box and needs to be replaced as a complete unit if damaged.

Cooling System
The radiator of the N26 SULEV looks similar to the standard F30 radiator. The surface of the cooling fins are coated with a special "PremAir" coating. The coating consists of multiple porous layers of a catalytic surface. The task of the catalyst coating is to convert Ozone into Oxygen.

Can't see anything that would cause any major concern for modding or anything that would cause more or less power.

Tim

BMS dyno'd a stage 1 N20 and N26 and power was not statistically different.

Good to know. Thanks tim330i

Great info above!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by tim330i

The differences between the N20 (7/2012 and on) and N26 are tiny. Pre 7/2012 N20 engines had a vacuum driven waste gate, where newer N20s and N26s have electronically driven waste gates.

Tim

Does 320i come with N20 or N26?

Originally Posted by namelessman

Does 320i come with N20 or N26?

Should be either or depending on the state.

Tim

are all MY13+ MT6's still N20's? or are they N26 now?

Originally Posted by finaloption

are all MY13+ MT6's still N20's? or are they N26 now?

Either or. Depends on the state.

Tim