--- title: Building a BMW S54 M3 Engine For Boost description: Turnology built an S54 BMW M3 engine featuring JE pistons and Pro Seal head gaskets, check out the story here! image: ?t=1493308195879#keepProtocol --- [![jepistons-logo.png](https://info.jepistons.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Global/JEPistons/jepistons-logo.png?width=256&height=111&name=jepistons-logo.png "jepistons-logo.png")](http://www.jepistons.com/) - [Home](http://www.jepistons.com/) - [Videos](http://blog.jepistons.com/topic/videos) - [What's New](https://blog.jepistons.com/topic/new-products) - [Tech](http://www.jepistons.com/TechCorner/Index.aspx) - [Order](http://www.jepistons.com/OrderInfo/Index.aspx) - [Company Info](http://www.jepistons.com/AboutUs.aspx) - [BLOG HOME](http://blog.jepistons.com) - [PRODUCT LINES](http://jepistons.com) - [JE PISTONS](https://blog.jepistons.com/topic/je-pistons) - [JE PRO SEAL GASKETS](https://blog.jepistons.com/topic/pro-seal) - [SPORTSMAN RACING PRODUCTS (SRP)](https://blog.jepistons.com/topic/SRP) - [NEWS](http://blog.jepistons.com/topic/news) - [NEW PRODUCTS](http://blog.jepistons.com/topic/new-products) - [ENGINE TECH](http://blog.jepistons.com/topic/engine-tech) - [PISTONS 101](http://blog.jepistons.com/topic/pistons-101) - [ENGINE BUILDS](http://blog.jepistons.com/topic/engine-builds) - [FEATURES](http://blog.jepistons.com/topic/features) - [CAR FEATURES](http://blog.jepistons.com/topic/car-features) - [INTERVIEWS](http://blog.jepistons.com/topic/interviews) - [MASTERS OF MOTORS](http://blog.jepistons.com/topic/masters-of-motors) - [ABOUT / HOW TO ENTER](http://blog.jepistons.com/je-pistons-unveils-2018-masters-of-motors-competition) - [LATEST NEWS](http://blog.jepistons.com/topic/masters-of-motors) - [EPISODES](http://blog.jepistons.com/topic/momepisode) Search the blog # JE Pistons ,[FEATURES](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/features) ,[SPORT COMPACT](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/sport-compact) ,[FORD](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/ford) ,[CHEVY](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/chevy) ,[CAR FEATURES](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/car-features) ,[ENGINE TECH](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/engine-tech) ,[Tech](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/tech) ,[Masters of Motors](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/masters-of-motors) [JE Pistons Teams Up with AMSOIL to Launch Masters of Motors Dyno Competition!](https://info.jepistons.com/je-pistons-unveils-masters-of-motors-competition) ,[FEATURES](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/features) ,[ENGINE BUILDS](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/engine-builds) ,[Powersports](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/powersports) ,[BIKE FEATURES](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/bike-features) ,[Racer Interviews](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/racer-interviews) [The 550+ HP Suzuki GS Nitrous Pro Street Drag Bike](https://info.jepistons.com/drag-racing/bike-features/pro-street/mummert-suzuki-gs) ,[NEWS](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/news) ,[Powersports](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/powersports) ,[RACING NEWS](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/racing-news) [Gulf Oil Drag Racing and their 2019 Top Fuel Bike Success](https://info.jepistons.com/gulf-oil-drag-racing-and-their-2019-top-fuel-bike-success) ,[SPORT COMPACT](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/sport-compact) ,[ENGINE BUILDS](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/engine-builds) ,[ENGINE TECH](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/engine-tech) ,[je-pistons](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/je-pistons) [Papadakis Racing Builds the First 1,000hp 2020 Supra Engine!](https://info.jepistons.com/papadakis-racing-builds-the-first-1000hp-2020-supra-engine) ,[Powersports](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/powersports) ,[ENGINE TECH](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/engine-tech) ,[BIKE FEATURES](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/bike-features) [Inside King Racing's Puma-Powered Top Fuel Motorcycle](https://info.jepistons.com/inside-king-racings-puma-powered-top-fuel-motorcycle) ![](https://info.jepistons.com/hubfs/JE%20Pistons/Sourced-Stories/2017-02-23_02-07-27.jpg) # [Building a BMW S54 M3 Engine For Boost](https://info.jepistons.com/building-a-bmw-s54-m3-engine-for-boost) April 27, 2017 / by [Mark Gearhart](https://info.jepistons.com/author/mark-gearhart) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) *Turnology built an S54 BMW M3 engine featuring JE pistons and Pro Seal head gaskets, check out the story here!* *![2017-02-23_21-26-44-640x249.jpg](https://info.jepistons.com/hs-fs/hubfs/JE%20Pistons/Sourced-Stories/2017-02-23_21-26-44-640x249.jpg?width=627&height=244&name=2017-02-23_21-26-44-640x249.jpg)* Few enthusiasts will refute the majestic appeal of BMW’s E46 M3 S54 powerplant. It featured individual throttle bodies, variable valve timing, 333 horsepower, and an 8,000 rpm redline. But like most race bread engines designed for street use, they had their own problems…especially as the mileage accrued. The two most common were the VANOS (variable valve timing) and connecting rod bearing failures. With our [Project M-Track3r](http://www.turnology.com/project/project-m-track3r/), we unfortunately succumbed to the latter. Our 2004 M3 was beyond the year range (2000-2003) of which most rod bearing failures occurred. The rod bearings aren’t wide enough and were too tight. Additionally, they weren’t retained properly to keep them from spinning when being run at stratospheric engine speeds. We took our M3 out to Streets of Willow at Willow Springs and on the last session of tire testing, fell fate to that notorious knock. [**Read the full story on TURNology!**](http://www.turnology.com/tech-stories/engine/building-a-bulletproof-bmw-s54-m3-engine-with-michael-essa/)   Topics: [SPORT COMPACT](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/sport-compact), [ENGINE BUILDS](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/engine-builds), [featured](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/featured), [ENGINE TECH](https://info.jepistons.com/topic/engine-tech) ### Related posts [JE Pistons Teams Up with AMSOIL to Launch Masters of Motors Dyno Competition!](https://info.jepistons.com/je-pistons-unveils-masters-of-motors-competition) [Papadakis Racing Builds the First 1,000hp 2020 Supra Engine!](https://info.jepistons.com/papadakis-racing-builds-the-first-1000hp-2020-supra-engine) [Grabowski Brothers Racing’s Unlimited Class 5 Crosstrek Isn’t Your Grandma’s Subaru](https://info.jepistons.com/grabowski-brothers-racings-unlimited-class-5-crosstrek-isnt-your-grandmas-subaru) ![Mark Gearhart](https://info.jepistons.com/hs-fs/hubfs/1456624_10151856131352685_1232379123_n.jpg?width=100&height=100&name=1456624_10151856131352685_1232379123_n.jpg) #### Written by [Mark Gearhart](https://info.jepistons.com/author/mark-gearhart) Mark is the Content Marketing Manager and former magazine editor. Mark has been contributing to the automotive industry since 1995. ### Subscribe to Email Updates #### FOLLOW US - - - - MOST POPULAR [![How to Install Motorcycle and ATV Piston Rings](https://info.jepistons.com/hubfs/JE%20Pistons/TECH/How%20to%20Install%20Motorcycle%20Piston%20Rings/je_pistons_install_piston_rings-lead.jpg) How to Install Motorcycle and ATV Piston Rings](https://info.jepistons.com/how-to-install-motorcycle-and-atv-piston-rings) [![Wrist Pin Locks: Different Styles and How To Install Them](https://info.jepistons.com/hubfs/JE%20Pistons/TECH/Wire%20Locks/001-piston-lock-types-installation-techniques.jpg) Wrist Pin Locks: Different Styles and How To Install Them](https://info.jepistons.com/wrist-pin-locks-different-types-and-how-to-install-them) [![Compression Ratio Theory and How to Calculate in Powersports](https://info.jepistons.com/hubfs/JE%20Pistons/TECH/Compression%20Ratio/je_pistons_compression_005-ps.jpg) Compression Ratio Theory and How to Calculate in Powersports](https://info.jepistons.com/compression-ratio-theory-and-how-to-calculate-in-powersports) [![Everything You Wanted to Know About the GM LS Engine Family](https://info.jepistons.com/hs-fs/hubfs/JE%20Pistons/TECH/LS%20Engine%20Family/LS-02.jpg?t=1475023575990&width=349&name=LS-02) Everything You Wanted to Know About the GM LS Engine Family](https://info.jepistons.com/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-gm-ls-engine-family) [![Inside The Honda K20C1 (Type R) Cylinder Head With 4 Piston Racing](https://info.jepistons.com/hubfs/JE%20Pistons/TECH/Honda%20k20C1%20Head/001-JE-pistons-honda-k-series-k20C-scanning.jpg) Inside The Honda K20C1 (Type R) Cylinder Head With 4 Piston Racing](https://info.jepistons.com/comparing-hondas-new-k20c-head-to-the-last-ten-k20a-series-) Videos [![JE Pistons Youtube Ad](https://info.jepistons.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/Ads/jepistons-youtube-01.jpg?width=800&name=jepistons-youtube-01.jpg "JE Pistons Youtube Ad")](https://www.youtube.com/user/jepistonsvideos) **JE Pistons**, 10800 Valley View Street, Cypress, California 90630 Copyright © 2026 Race Winning Brands. 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