Mixing N53 index 11 and N54 index 12 injectors

[SoupAnxiety]

Hi,

I have an N53 with index 11 injectors, with the usual symptoms. All injectors have been tested and two have failed.

I am buying new injectors to replace the failed ones. My choices are index 11 N53 injectors or index 12 N54 injectors. They're priced identically or thereabouts.

Has anybody mixed 11s and 12s? I'm tempted by the 12s as they're a later version and I hope they last longer than the 11s. If there's no difference in reliability then 11s would be the safe bet.

Any insight would be welcome...

[popeofmick]

From what I remember Index 12 N54 would not fit on an N53. Something to do with the metal tangs being different.

[bmwmike]

N54 do fit and will work. Not sure I've seen anyone mixing n54 and n53 injectors though. I would.

[bearman68]

I understand index 11 & 12 will work OK together, but nothing else is compatible with index 11.

[SoupAnxiety]

BMW wanted £460 for each N53 injector, I've used ML Performance and they're £350 each. I've got 70k from the two failed and previously used index 11s, so new index 11s should be good for more. And I know they'll definitely work...

Two ordered along with the decoupling rings, I'll refit at the weekend and get them coded and adaptations cleared.

The E92 needs the new injectors and some other work, but it's significantly cheaper keeping it going than trying to buy something to replace it.

[bearman68]

SoupAnxiety said:

BMW wanted £460 for each N53 injector, I've used ML Performance and they're £350 each. I've got 70k from the two failed and previously used index 11s, so new index 11s should be good for more. And I know they'll definitely work...

Two ordered along with the decoupling rings, I'll refit at the weekend and get them coded and adaptations cleared.

The E92 needs the new injectors and some other work, but it's significantly cheaper keeping it going than trying to buy something to replace it.

You'll probably need to do the timing chain as well.

[SoupAnxiety]

I took a chance on new N54 index 12 injectors from BMW, and I can confirm they work absolutely fine mixed with N53 index 11 injectors.

My configuration is -

Cylinders 1-4: N53 index 11
Cylinders 5-6: N54 index 12

This means bank 2 is mixed between the two versions. Adaptations reset, injectors coded, all is well in the driving seat and based on trim / smooth running data - at idle and under load. FWIW it ran smoothly even without coding.

I ordered 13538616079-12 and I received parts with outer packaging referencing the 079 part number, but the injectors themselves are stamped 13537585261-12. This is consistent with the comments at https://blog.fcpeuro.com/difference-between-direct...

If any of my other N53 index 11s fail, I'll be replacing them as and when with N54 index 12s.

[MartinFC]

SoupAnxiety said:

I took a chance on new N54 index 12 injectors from BMW, and I can confirm they work absolutely fine mixed with N53 index 11 injectors.

My configuration is -

Cylinders 1-4: N53 index 11
Cylinders 5-6: N54 index 12

This means bank 2 is mixed between the two versions. Adaptations reset, injectors coded, all is well in the driving seat and based on trim / smooth running data - at idle and under load. FWIW it ran smoothly even without coding.

I ordered 13538616079-12 and I received parts with outer packaging referencing the 079 part number, but the injectors themselves are stamped 13537585261-12. This is consistent with the comments at https://blog.fcpeuro.com/difference-between-direct...

If any of my other N53 index 11s fail, I'll be replacing them as and when with N54 index 12s.

That's really good to know, thanks for posting the outcome. This backs up the information from Bimmerprofs that mixing Index 11 and earlier Index numbers in the same bank is fine, good to know it also applies to the 12s. My N53 has run perfectly for the last 15,000 miles, with a mix of Index 9 and 11 across both banks.

[bmwmike]

Good to hear.