BMW N46 Tuning

"All you need to know about performance tuning the BMW N46 engine!"

The BMW N46 engine, produced from 2004 to 2015, represents a notable powerplant known for its balance of performance and efficiency.

Featuring a four-cylinder inline configuration, the N46 engine exemplifies BMW's commitment to engineering precision, offering both power and refinement.

During its production years, this engine was found in various BMW models, including the 1 Series, 3 Series, and 5 Series, delivering a dynamic driving experience with a focus on fuel economy.

The N46 engine introduced Valvetronic technology, a system that adjusts valve lift to optimize engine breathing, enhancing performance while also improving fuel efficiency.

BMW further improved the N46 engine with advancements such as direct fuel injection, which enhanced combustion efficiency and reduced emissions, aligning with environmental standards.

Reliability is a hallmark of the N46 engine, making it a dependable choice for those who value both performance and longevity.

Enthusiasts have explored tuning options for the N46 engine, unlocking additional power and torque potential while maintaining its efficient characteristics.

In summary, the BMW N46 engine, produced from 2004 to 2015, offers a harmonious blend of performance and efficiency.

With advanced technologies like Valvetronic and direct fuel injection, it provides a dynamic driving experience while meeting emissions standards. When properly maintained, it continues to be a reliable and capable powerplant, with tuning potential for those seeking to enhance their vehicle's performance.

In this article we consider N46 tuning and provide tips on the best modifications for your car. BMW N46 make a good tuning project and with a few sensible modifications like remaps, turbo kits and camshafts you will definitely enhance your driving opportunities.

Watch my video overview and tips on BMW Tuning. Be sure to keep up with our latest YouTube content and subscribe.

History, Power & Specs of the Engine

• N46B18 129 lbft at 3,750 rpm
  2004-2005 E46 316i/316ti
• N46B20U1 133 lbft at 3,250 rpm
  2005-2007 E87 118i
• N46B20U2 133 lbft at 3,250 rpm
  2007-2011 E81/E87 118i
  2007-2013 E90 318i
• N46B20O0  A 148 lbft at 3,750 rpm
  2004-2006 E46 318i, 318Ci and 318ti
• N46B20O1  148 lbft at 3,600 rpm
  2004-2007 E83 X3 2.0i
  2005-2008 E85 Z4 2.0i
  2004-2007 E87 120i
  2005-2007 E90/E91 320i
• N46NB20  148 lbft at 3,000 rpm
  2007-2011 E81/E82/E87/E88 120i
  2007-2013 E90/E91/E92/E93 320i
  2007-2010 E60 520i
  2009-2015 E84 X1 sDrive18i / xDrive18i
  2007-2010 E83 X3 2.0i

Tuning the BMW N46 and best N46 performance parts.

Best N46 parts

The best N46 upgrades on an engine are as we have found the ones that give the best value for money.

We won't be swayed by popular N46 upgrades, they need to be cost effective.

Some N46 engines respond better to less aggressive camshaft durations than others.

The engine timing and injectors and fuel pump also will say much on the bhp gains you'll make.

Altering valve durations can alter the bhp band and on most engines the exhaust and intake durations do not need to match, although most cams and tuners use matched pairs there are some advantages to extending the intake or exhaust durations.

Please watch our video which covers the 5 principles of tuning your car. Be sure to keep up with our latest YouTube content and subscribe.

Best mods for your N46

1. ECU Tunes - N46 engine tuning/remapping provides the most power for the money, aftermarket ECU upgrades, and piggyback ECUs are all alternatives with chip replacements being popular on the N46. You'll get around 10% more power from this mod.
2. Flywheel lightening - a reduced weight flywheel will improve the engines ability to rev freely. But not always suitable for all N46 engines.
3. Intake and Performance  57mm exhaust - Note that on their own these mods won't ADD POWER , but they can help release power after other mods by lessening the restrictive flow.
4. Flowing and porting the engine head - for larger gains, you will get better flow and make a more efficient engine if you do this to support your other mods.

ECU Tunes: Engine tuning or remapping is a highly effective way to maximize power for your money when it comes to the N46 engine.

This modification involves adjusting the engine control unit (ECU) to optimize various parameters, including air-fuel mixture and ignition timing.

It's known for providing substantial power gains, typically around 10% more power, making it a popular choice among N46 enthusiasts. Additionally, aftermarket ECU upgrades and piggyback ECUs are alternative options, and chip replacements are particularly favored for the N46 engine.

Flywheel Lightening:

Reducing the weight of the flywheel can be a valuable modification for the N46 engine.

A lighter flywheel enhances the engine's ability to rev more freely, improving throttle response and overall driving experience.

However, it's essential to note that this modification may not be suitable for all N46 engines, as it can affect low-end torque, which is a crucial consideration.

Intake and Performance Exhaust: Upgrading the intake system and exhaust components is essential for optimizing the N46 engine's performance.

While these modifications might not independently add power, they significantly contribute to the engine's potential by reducing flow restrictions.

A 57mm performance exhaust, for example, can enhance exhaust gas flow, complementing other mods and releasing additional power.

Flowing and Porting the Engine Head: Porting and flowing the cylinder head is a critical performance enhancement that aims to optimize the airflow into the engine while removing flow restrictions and turbulence.

This modification plays a pivotal role in improving the engine's breathing, allowing it to make the most of other performance-enhancing modifications.

When combined with other upgrades, it can provide larger power gains and greater overall efficiency.

N46 Tuning Stages

Engine tuning offers significant power gains, while flywheel lightening enhances throttle response.

Upgrading the intake and exhaust systems contributes to overall engine efficiency, and porting and flowing the engine head supports other modifications by improving airflow.

It's crucial to choose the right combination of modifications that align with your goals and the specific characteristics of your N46 engine.

Typical stage 1 mods often include: Intake manifolds, Fast road camshaft, Sports exhaust header/manifold, drilled & smoothed airbox, Remaps/piggy back ECU, Panel air filters.

Typical stage 2 mods often include: Ported and polished head,  fuel pump upgrades, induction kit, high flow fuel injectors, Sports catalyst & performance exhaust.

Typical stage 3 mods often include: Internal engine upgrades (head flowing porting/bigger valves), Crank and Piston upgrades to alter compression, Twin charging conversions, Competition cam, Engine balancing & blueprinting, Adding or Upgrading forced induction (turbo/supercharger).

A remap allows a tuner to establish the full potential of all the parts you've fitted to your N46.

(In some cases, as the factory ECU is locked flashing is not an option, so an aftermarket ECU is the route to take, and many of these will outperform factory ECU's but make sure it has knock protection and that you get it setup properly.)

It will usually give you around 10% more power, but the outcome will rely on the parts you've fitted and the condition of your engine.

Feeding air into each cylinder is the aim to any engine upgrade job.

Intake manifolds take the air during the suck phase from the intake filter and allow it to be pulled into the engine cylinders with fuel for the squish phase.

The bore size, shape and flow rate of the Intake manifolds can make a large effect on to fuel delivery on the N46.

On popular production engines manifolds are needing motorsport parts, although some OEM provide fairly well optimized headers.

Fitting big valve kits, getting port matching and head flowing will also boost bhp and torque, the fantastic side effect is it will afford you a better bhp and torque increase on other upgrades.

N46 Turbo upgrades

NA (naturally aspirated) engines need quite a lot of work when you add a turbo, so we have a separate guide to help you take into account the pros and cons of going this route on your N46

There are some kits around, and typically running around 0.6 bar of boost will give you another 70hp, beware of the manifolds though, left hand drive cars need a different design.

You will need a custom exhaust header/manifold, oil feed and return kit. We would recommend a Wlabro 255l/h fuel pump and a fuel pressure regulator and boost, temp,oil pressure, oil temp and air/fuel gauges so you can monitor what is going on, it can prevent problems and help you diagnose faults and issues with your installation.

A manual boost controller is also a good option, we would recommend a set and forget installation for ease and simplicity.

Don't forget the intercooler and we would recommend a front mounted intercooler on the N46, but you might need to modify your cars front to get this to fit.

The more air you can get into an engine, the more fuel it can burn and uprating the induction with a turbocharger upgrade makes major power gains.

However, the power output of each engine is limited so fit  forged components to deal with the power constraints.

Even after investing a lot of money on turbo charger improvements for the N46, many mechanics find that when they take it for a test drive, their engine block crashes and burns due to improper mapping or too high a boost setting on the turbo charger.

Typically, large turbochargers struggle to produce power at low rpm, whereas smaller turbochargers spool up considerably more rapidly but lack peak rpm improvements.

We're happy to see that turbochargers are always changing, and that variable vane turbochargers, which enable the vane angle to be varied based on speed, are commonplace.

The exhaust gases from a dual scroll turbocharger are diverted into two separate channels and then pushed through the turbocharger by two distinct angled vanes. They also help the engine's scavenging performance.

When the engine is getting a lot more air, it's not uncommon for the MAF/MAP air flow sensor to become restricted.

While the OEM air sensor was limiting horsepower at a much lower level, we witness 4 bar air sensors dealing with fairly substantial power improvements.

Adding a supercharger or additional turbo will make large power gains, although harder to install. We have this article on twincharging if you want to read more.

N46 Fuelling Mods

You will need to ensure that the engine is not starved of fuel so will have to uprate the fuelling when you start extending past 20% of a bhp increase.

A fuel pump will also be needed for more extreme tuning projects, it's not just the injectors or fuel pressure regulator that does all the work, it needs to get a supply of the fuel.

Don't forget to over specify your flow rate on the injectors.

The rule of thumb is to add another 20% when fitting an injector, helps cope with injector deterioration and gives a bit of spare capacity should the engine require more fuel.

We think this one is common sense, but you'll need to match your fuel injector to the type of fuel your car uses as well.

Exhaust upgrades for the N46

You may need to replace your exhaust if your current exhaust is actually creating a restriction.

Exhausts DO NOT ADD POWER, they remove a restriction, so if there is not a restriction you won't be gaining anything.

Even with modest power gains, the flow rate on most factory exhausts is still excellent. However, when power levels rise, you'll need a better flowing exhaust.

In general, sports exhausts aid air flow from the engine, but a wider exhaust might clog the flow rate and worsen the situation. For optimal results, stick to a size of 1.5 to 2.5 inches.

As a result of the catalyst and filter's size and surface area, a sports catalyst essentially overcomes this limitation and raises the performance to levels you would anticipate without having a catalyst fitted, yet keeping the vehicle road legal.

Weak spots Issues & problem areas on the N46

The N46 engines are generally reliable and solid units, as long as you follow the manufacturers service schedules, and use a good quality oil to ensure longevity. Few problems should happen as long as they are regularly serviced and maintained.

Carbon build up in the head, particularly around the valves which will sap power or create flat spots, this is a larger issue on direct injection engines but should be looked out for on all engines. We have tips on removing carbon build up.

Some of our members have had issues with flat spots or glitches after applying mods and upgrades or tuning, this is not usually related to this engines design, so instead see our article on diagnosing flat spots and problems after tuning which should help you get the bottom of this issue.

Regular oil changes are vital on the N46, especially when tuned and will help extend the life and reliability of the engine.

If you would like to know more, or just get some friendly advice on Tuning your N46 engine please join us in our friendly forum where you can discuss tuning options in more detail with our tuning articles to get a full grasp of the benefits and drawbacks of each modification.

Please help us improve these tips by sending us your feedback in the comments box below.

We love hearing about our website visitors projects, especially the mods done and which work best for you on your car. Which helps us keep our guides and tips up to date helping others with their modified car projects. Your feedback and comments are used to keep this page up to date, and help improve the accuracy of these N46 tuning guides which get regular updates and revisions.

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This article is flagged for an update, so please pass on specific tips below that I can include. All articles, and content was written by me, Waynne Smith TorqueCars founder. Some outlines are just too general so I appreciate your feedback and suggestions. This entry was filed under BMW. You can leave a response below or join our forum to discuss this article and car modification in detail with our members.

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