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Sorry, but telling me what you believe or not will not help me in any way. What I wrote are facts, and I think also my question is clear. Again: I would like to swap early N18 with the latest N18.
N18 on 2010???
No mate i dont believe thats possible.:/
N18 started from 2012
Nope. N18 showed up in the US in the LCI R56 models as early as late 2009 builds.
As for swapping the later N18 engine with and earlier one… It may be possible, but I believe you’ll have to be familiar with BMW/Mini diagnostic and programming tools to get everything talking to each other. Would be worlds easier to just fine a compatible N18 engine and drop it in. I’d be tempted to find a suitable donor and build it for power and efficiency, before trying to go though the hoops of getting a newer engine and fuel pump working.
Hi, I know it's a little bit risky, but the HPFP is only different design with the same fuel delivery line connection and principle of operation. I noticed the electrical connector is also different, but can easily be replaced. I think there are no other big differences between the engines. I am realy tempted to try this, because my current engine is on it's way out and I found a nicely priced (2.800 eur) 0 miles 2013 N18.
I also have a FG tech Galletto to read/write the DME and ISTA+ for diagnostic of other modules.
If by "principal of operation" you mean "low pressure feed into the HPFP, and high pressure feed into the fuel line", then yes, same principal of operation. In reality, the two fuel pumps are controlled differently, which is why there is a different connector. I believe the earlier pumps are controlled either "High" or "Low", whereas the newer pumps are controlled by pulse-width-modulation of the solenoid from the ECU to provide a more precise fuel pressure curve to the distribution fuel line.
If by "principal of operation" you mean "low pressure feed into the HPFP, and high pressure feed into the fuel line", then yes, same principal of operation. In reality, the two fuel pumps are controlled differently, which is why there is a different connector. I believe the earlier pumps are controlled either "High" or "Low", whereas the newer pumps are controlled by pulse-width-modulation of the solenoid from the ECU to provide a more precise fuel pressure curve to the distribution fuel line.
If this is the case (PWM instead of high/low to control the pump) then it will definitely not work with the old DME. I thought that only the connector is different and the signal the same.... Thanks for helping me out!
I know this is an old thread but I wanted to chime in on this as I just ran into this and came across this thread while I was looking for the answer and wanted to share in case someone else runs into this issue.
As far as the head and hpfp goes... it is possible to swap the hpfp hardware, however you have to use whichever style the car originally had!
For example my car has the new style hpfp (2013 R60)for the n18 (car over heated catastrophically) and I had a fresh rebuilt n18 head (2012 R56) with the old style hpfp. I was able to swap the intake cam, hpfp and mounting plate, high pressure line to fuel rail, and fuel rail from the 2013 head to the 2012 head with no issues! Car runs and drives with no codes!
N= new style hpfp
O= old style New style on left, old style on the right New style has an oil galley in the hole circled that goes all the way through the plate Old style looks like it has a hole there but it closed off on the back side of the mounting plate Oil galley in head with new style, also note the keyway at the end of intake came is different from old style which is why you have to change the cam over Oil galley is present on head but is blocked by the plate, also note the keyway at the end of intake came is different from new style which is why you have to change the cam over Oil galley opening blocked on back side of plate on old style Oil galley opening on back side of plate on new style Fuel line size differences on the fuel rail side which is why you have to swap the rail All new style parts on old style head
Thanks for sharing this. (Overheated my early N18 and choosing between two donors to drop in.)
- One newer, less miles but I'd either have to swap parts over or learn a bunch of programming
vs.
- one older and more expensive... but comes with a complete manual transmission and complete car still attached.
Nice to know it's possible to switch - but way less work to use a direct drop in.
(Happy to build something cool later - but for now, need the car on the road.)
Thanks for sharing this. (Overheated my early N18 and choosing between two donors to drop in.)
- One newer, less miles but I'd either have to swap parts over or learn a bunch of programming
vs.
- one older and more expensive... but comes with a complete manual transmission and complete car still attached.
Nice to know it's possible to switch - but way less work to use a direct drop in.
(Happy to build something cool later - but for now, need the car on the road.)
No problem. Glad the info came in handy for someone else. The swap really wasn’t bad at all. The worst part was the dang rocker arm spring deals on the intake cam. All in all probably took me about an hour or two to swap everything over.
Honestly I probably would have been too scared to try it if I didn’t already buy the old style head before knowing they had different HPFP lol. But knowing what I know now, I would do it again.
Car ran great for the last year that I had it before I sold it.
No problem. Glad the info came in handy for someone else. The swap really wasn’t bad at all. The worst part was the dang rocker arm spring deals on the intake cam. All in all probably took me about an hour or two to swap everything over.
Honestly I probably would have been too scared to try it if I didn’t already buy the old style head before knowing they had different HPFP lol. But knowing what I know now, I would do it again.
Car ran great for the last year that I had it before I sold it.
Hey, very nice and clear post about your findings. I was wondering if you could tell me if the electrical connector of the hpfp from the old and the new one are the same? I have the old type hpfp and want to put a new type hpfp on because these are far more reliable then the old ones. Maybe I can also swap these if the electrical connectors are the same.
