BMW E36 vs. E46 - Battle of the Bavarians

Last year, FCP Euro Video Editor Stephen Coppola and I discussed power delivery problems with his SpecE46 (an E46 330i built to an agreed standard) and how he was down on power and speed relative to other cars that should be more or less identical. The engine from his race car is original to the...

Compression testing is one of the most common procedures for checking the relative health of an engine. After all, engines are air pumps, and without compression, they tend not to work well. If you ever want to know where you stand in terms of the overall health of your engine, a compression...

I’ve found that the most modern, highest-performance vehicle often isn’t the most fun to drive.  Given a twisty road and the choice between a 650-horsepower, turbocharged, all-wheel drive supercar with 335-section tires or a 20-year-old M3, I would prefer the BMW. So how far does that train of...

BMW fuel injectors have been a hot topic for many owners over the last decade or so. The switch to direct fuel injection made BMW’s N5X and B5X-series engines some of the most capable Euro tuner platforms of all time. However, their initial Piezoelectric-style injectors were anything but reliable...

The N55 was a welcomed replacement for the potent but problematic N54, but in recent years, it’s developed a reputation for eating connecting rod and main bearings. Even though the internet cites frequent failures, it got me wondering: Is that reputation justified, or are a few isolated cases...

The N52 was a fixture in BMW’s lineup for nearly a decade. It’s a reliable engine suited to the highway and the race track. However, a recent recall has made light of a potential fire hazard within their PCV systems. If you own an N52-powered BMW, this is something you’ll want to fix. What is the...

All N55-powered BMWs use an electric water pump. They’re efficient and reduce parasitic engine losses, but they remain a source of headaches. More recently, owners have found their water pump’s aluminum ground bolt failing on them, shearing off for whatever reason and leaving the pump inoperable....

There are tons of kits on sale this week, many more than you’d be able to search through to see them all. Each make and model is covered, so you’ll be able to take advantage no matter what you drive. From air filter replacements to rotating assembly updates, there’s no kit too involved that we...

  European luxury isn't cheap. The vehicles use the highest quality material and craftsmanship while being built to higher European vehicle standards. But, with all that technology and craftsmanship comes a hefty price tag. Thankfully, European luxury cars depreciate like no others leaving a...