If you drive a BMW with the N55 engine — the 135i, 235i, 335i, 435i or an early M2 — there’s one upgrade that’ll end up on your list sooner or later: a new N55 Charge Pipe. The Charge Pipe sits between the intercooler and the Intake and, as standard on BMWs, is made of plastic. That plastic is notorious: it becomes brittle from the heat under the bonnet and cracks right at the connection to the throttle body, usually just when you’re flooring it and the boost is at its highest.
Why the OEM N55 Charge Pipe cracks
The N55 quickly generates more boost pressure than a naturally aspirated engine ever experiences, and that pressure is borne entirely by the OEM Charge Pipe. BMW made the part from glass-fibre-reinforced plastic — light and cheap, but not designed to withstand years of heat soak combined with increased boost. As soon as you move towards Stage 1, or simply as the car rakes up the miles, hairline cracks start to appear where the pipe clicks into the throttle body. The result is a boost leak: a noticeably sluggish response, sometimes a limp mode, and fault codes relating to low boost pressure. A cracked Charge Pipe is therefore one of the most common faults on the N54 and N55 engines.
The benefits of an aluminium N55 Charge Pipe
An aftermarket aluminium N55 Charge Pipe solves that problem in one go. The material does not warp under heat and maintains full boost pressure, even after years of driving. Because the internal diameter is often larger than that of the OEM plastic part, pressure loss between the intercooler and the Intake is reduced, and the turbo responds just that little bit faster to your accelerator. Many drivers notice a sharper throttle response and a slightly more audible diverter valve. More importantly, you won’t have to worry about it again. Whilst the OEM part is essentially a wear part, an aluminium Charge Pipe is, in principle, fitted once and lasts for the rest of the car’s life.
Will it fit your 135i, 335i or M2?
The ENDURA Charge Pipe for the N55 fits the 135i, 235i, 335i and 435i, covering most F20/F30-generation N55s, plus the early M2. If you’re still driving an N54 (the first-generation 135i and 335i E8x/E9x) or a newer B58, there’s a separate pipe for your engine code — so always check the engine code and not just the model, as BMW used different connections and diameters for each generation. For the VAG drivers amongst us, the Charge Pipe on the EA888 platform (Golf 7/8 GTI/R, Audi S3) is constructed differently; for that, you’ll need the matching Golf kit.
Combine with a Downpipe, Intake and a Stage 1 remap
A Charge Pipe is a perfect first bolt-on, but really comes into its own as part of a Stage 1 package. Combine it with a Downpipe for improved flow on the exhaust side, an open-Air Intake for cooler Intake air, and a good remap to ensure everything is properly tuned. If you’d like to see a complete build, read our article on the BMW B58 Stage 1 or our guide to the Intercooler upgrade. Fitting the Charge Pipe itself is a half-hour job: disconnect the intercooler hose, click the old pipe out and fit the new one using the clips and O-rings supplied. You don’t need a remap to fit it, but it really pays for itself as soon as the boost increases.
Got a cracked Charge Pipe?
Choose the aluminium Charge Pipe for your engine code and get back to driving with full, reliable boost pressure — whether it’s a BMW N55 or a Golf GTI.
Charge Pipe (VAG) ENDURA N55 (BMW)