BMW N20 Engine Common Problems & Reliability Issues
Meet Zach
Zach is a BMW enthusiast with a passion for performance. With over 10 years of experience modifying and performing DIY work on BMWs, he’s developed a deep understanding of virtually every BMW engine. He’s also the proud owner of a 600whp N54 with upgraded twin turbos and an E30 325i drift car and has a particular affinity for the S58 engine. Zach is highly knowledgeable about all things BMW, but his expertise in tuning and performance mods sets him apart. His experience as an enthusiast, combined with his technical knowledge, makes him an essential resource for anyone looking to improve the performance of their BMW.
The BMW N20 is a 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine produced from 2011-2017, and was BMW’s replacement for the naturally aspirated 3.0L 6-cylinder N52/N53 engines. As the outgoing N52 and N53 were reliable engines, the BMW N20 had big shoes to fill, especially given its turbocharged design. Turbo engines are more complex and require several additional components, which means there are more things to potentially go wrong. However, thus far, the N20 has proven to be a reliable engine without a significant number of common problems.
If you have any more questions about the BMW N20 engine outside of its most common problems, check out our BMW N20 Engine Page which covers the engine in great detail.
BMW N20 Engine Common Problems Contents:
BMW N20 Common Engine Problems
Although the N20 is a reliable engine overall, the earlier models are plagued with timing chain issues that may be costly to fix. Simply because some engine problems are common does not mean they will indefinitely experience issues on every engine. Additionally, N20 engines are susceptible to many other issues that we will not classify as common issues, as they may only pop up on a small percentage of engines. So, what are the most common issues on the BMW N20?
If you would rather consume this content via a video, check out our BMW N20 Common Problems video below:
1. N20 Timing Chain Guide Issues
The timing chain appears to be the number one fault on the N20 engine, however, this issue is most prevalent on engines and vehicles produced prior to 2015. The main issue with the BMW N20’s timing belt design was the material used by BMW to make the timing chain guides. The initial N20 timing chain guides were made from a polymer that would degrade quickly and eventually fail. With damaged or broken guides, the N20 timing chain would gather play and damage other surrounding components. it could also cause the engine to skip timing dramatically, leading to the pistons coming in contact with the valves.
In January 2015, BMW redesigned the timing chain components, which seems to have significantly reduced the chance of failure. For certain vehicles produced prior to 2015, BMW offered an extended warranty for 7 years/70,000 miles on the timing chain and components.
In the unfortunate scenario where your N20 was not offered the extended warranty or is outside the age or mileage of the warranty, then the timing chain replacement can be a significant cost. In the worst scenario, a complete timing chain failure could potentially lead to engine failure. Generally, independent repair shops charge $1500+ for parts and repair, while the cost at a BMW dealership may be nearly double. This is a relatively tough DIY job, however, the timing chain and components cost roughly $500.
For more information, take a look at our dedicated BMW N20 Timing Chain Failure Guide.
Symptoms of BMW N20 Timing Chain Failure
- Loud Whining from Engine
- Typically, very loud and noticeable
- Significant Scoring on Chain
- Too Much Slack/Play
The most common symptom is a loud, noticeable whining sound from the N20 engine. Engines may make audible, but quiet whining noises under light revs/acceleration, however, this is unlikely to indicate a timing chain issue. An overwhelmingly loud whine may suggest the timing chain is beginning to fail.
Additionally, significant scoring or scratching on the timing chain may point to an underlying issue. Although, some scoring is normal due to age and wear and tear. The same may be said for slack or play in the timing chain; small amounts are normal, while significant slack or movement in the chain may suggest an issue. You may inspect the BMW N20 engine timing chain by peering through the oil cap.
DIY Difficulty – Intermediate to Advanced
Cost to Repair N20 Timing Chain & Components – ~$200 DIY, $1000+ indy shop
Mileage – May fail earlier, but usually after 50,000 miles
Other BMW N20 Engine Problems
The timing chain seems to be the most significant issue on the N20, and primarily only affects vehicles produced before 2015. Apart from the timing chain it is tough to come up with any issues that are truly common to the BMW N20. Of course, as engines age and accumulate more mileage there may be some common issues that come up due to typical wear and tear. Here we will review a few issues that may be the most common “wear and tear” problems.
1. N20 Valve Cover and Valve Cover Gasket
As with its larger 6-cylinder turbocharged BMW siblings, the BMW N20 engine uses a plastic composite valve cover (VC) and a rubber valve cover gasket (VCG). With increased mileage and age, the valve cover and valve cover gaskets may become brittle and begin cracking. This is mostly due to the nature of heat cycles where the engine and components heat up and cool down constantly as you drive the car and let it rest for long periods. Once the valve cover and/or gasket develop cracks they will begin leaking oil. Typically, this begins as a minor leak and may not be noticeable until it expands, or additional cracks develop.
Symptoms of Leaking N20 Valve Cover and/or Gasket Leaks
- Visible oil leak
- Burning oil smell
- Smoke
Due to the tilt of the engine, this is usually noticeable just below the engine cover on the left side of the engine, when viewing the car head-on. Smoke coming from the engine bay will likely become prevalent as the leaking oil may drip onto the extremely hot exhaust or turbocharger. For the same reason, you may notice a burning oil smell inside the cabin with the A/C or heat turned on, without using the air recirculation.
It is unlikely a minor leak will cause any significant issues on the N20 engine, however, over time the leaking oil may cause premature wear on parts such as engine or transmission mounts. Fire may also be a concern as the oil typically drips onto very hot components. The N20 engine VC and VCG are relatively inexpensive parts at about $300 for the valve cover, gasket, ball pin, shaft seal, 4 damping elements, and 20 bolts. Repairs done at a shop may add up as it is a labor-intensive replacement.
DIY Difficulty – Intermediate
BMW N20 Valve Cover (for BMW N20B20A) – Full kit including valve cover, gaskets, and bolts
BMW N26 Valve Cover (for BMW N26B20A) – Full kit including valve cover, gaskets, and bolts
**We recommend replacing the entire valve cover, especially over 100,000 miles.
N20/N26 Valve Cover Gasket (gasket only)
Cost to Repair – ~$300 DIY, $500+ independent repair shop
Mileage – 6+ years, and 60,000+ miles. May be sooner, or may hold up well past 100,000 miles
2. BMW N20 Engine Oil Filter Housing Gasket
We won’t spend much time discussing the N20 oil filter housing gasket (OFHG) issues. As you may have guessed, it is very similar to the valve cover and gasket. It is a rubber component that is subject to similar wear and tear with age, mileage, and heat cycles. The gasket may begin to crack over time, which will lead to the development of an oil leak. It is also possible the oil filter housing itself develops a crack and subsequent leak, but this is less likely than the gasket alone.
Symptoms of a leaking OFHG are like the VC/VCG, however, the oil leak will be observable in the area of the oil filter housing. The gasket is only roughly $10, while the oil filter housing runs over $300, including the cap, oil filter, and gaskets. The OFH/OFHG are also somewhat labor intensive, so costs may add up at independent repair shops or the BMW dealership.
DIY Difficulty – Intermediate
BMW N20/N26 Oil Filter Housing – Includes housing, filter, cap, and gasket
BMW N20/N26 Oil Filter Housing Gasket – Gasket only
Cost to repair – $10, or $300 to DIY, $500+ at independent repair shops
Mileage – 6+ years and 60,000+ miles. Maybe sooner, or may hold up past 100,000 miles
Final N20 Wear and Tear Items to Consider
Obviously, as cars age, there is no way to tell what will end up failing in the long run as wear and tear takes a toll on almost all components. However, a few other issues that are most likely include:
- Coolant Hoses
- Chargepipe
- Vacuum lines
- Vanos Solenoids
All in all, the BMW N20 is a reliable engine and does not have many common issues that warrant concern until higher mileage. For the DIY crowd, a lot of the repair jobs mentioned are not overly expensive as the cost of parts is not too high. For shopgoers, some of the repairs are lengthy and labor-intensive so the costs may add up.
BMW N20 General Maintenance
As with any engine, the BMW N20 is also subject to standard maintenance items such as fluid changes and ignition components. We will not discuss vehicle maintenance such as tires and brakes, but rather focus on the maintenance recommendations for the N20 engine specifically. Below is a list, in no specific order, of general maintenance items to expect on your BMW.
1. N20 Spark Plugs & Ignition Coils
These components play an important role in gasoline engines as they are directly responsible for igniting the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder, thereby generating power. Ignition coils transform the car battery voltage into the thousands of watts required to send a charge to the spark plugs. The plugs then create the spark that is required to ignite the air and fuel in the cylinder.
Each time a cylinder fires, the associated ignition coil, and spark plug must do their jobs completely to generate a large enough spark to generate a full burn, otherwise, the engine will lose power. Eventually, due to wear and tear caused by age and mileage, the plugs and coils will no longer work to the best of their ability.
It is recommended the spark plugs are changed every 50,000-60,000 miles on stock N20 engines, while modified or tuned N20 engines may require replacement as often as 20,000 to 25,000 miles. On the other hand, ignition coils should be changed every 60,000-75,000 miles on stock engines and tuned engines may burn through them as soon as 30,000 miles.
Recommended Maintenance Interval
Stock Engine: Spark plugs every 50,000-60,000 miles; Ignition coils every 60,000-75,000 miles
Modified/Tuned Engine: Plugs every 20,000-25,000 miles; Coils every 25,000-35,000 miles
Maintenance Cost
Spark Plugs: $65-89 DIY, $120+ at an independent repair shop
Ignition Coils: $159 DIY, $250+ at a repair shop
BUY BMW N20 IGNITION COILS HERE
2. BMW N20 Engine Oil
Although it is obvious engine oil must be changed as a part of standard maintenance, it is relatively unclear how often. Browsing the forums, a lot of people will suggest 5-7k (thousand) mile oil changes, while others claim 10k, and some claim 15k is acceptable. For a while, BMW suggested changing the oil every 15,000 miles on their newer engines, however, this was revised in 2014 to 10,000 miles. Personally, we believe the cost of engine oil is relatively inexpensive compared to premature engine wear or failure, so we believe 5,000 to 8,000-mile oil change intervals (OCI) are best.
That being said, the oil is long-life approved (whatever that means) and is typically high-quality oil. If you extend a few oil changes to closer to 10,000 miles the engine is not going to suddenly detonate due to old oil alone. Additionally, gentle driving on highways at constant speeds will likely extend oil life, while aggressive driving and/or frequent city driving will likely shorten the life. Your driving style should dictate whether your personal OCI is on the higher or shorter end.
N20 Engine Oil Info
Weights: 5W-30 or 5W-40 recommended
Oil Consumption: ~1 quart per 850 miles
Oil Capacity: 5.3 Quarts (5L)
Recommended Maintenance Interval
5,000-6,000 miles for aggressive driving, or short trips/city driving
7,000-8,000 miles for gentle/moderate driving, or long trips/highway driving
**We highly recommend using LiquiMoly engine oils. It’s an excellent oil for the price, and is our oil of choice for all 3 of our BMW N54 engines as well as any other turbo BMW.
Maintenance Cost
DIY: Depends on the brand, roughly $30-40
Shop: ~$100
**The oil filter should always be changed along with the oil**
3. N20 Engine Coolant
BMW does not clearly state a coolant change interval for the BMW N20 engine as they claim the coolant is a “lifetime” fluid. Now I am not quite sure if BMW just expects the engine to explode before 100,000 miles so they consider it a lifetime fluid. We recommend flushing and replacing your N20 coolant every 60,000 to 80,000 miles or roughly every 5 years. The coolant itself is very inexpensive, and as such, the DIY crowd may want to change the coolant even sooner.
N20 Coolant Info
BMW approved coolant
Coolant Capacity: 7.1 Quarts (6.7L)
Recommended Maintenance Interval
60,000 to 80,000 miles
OR every 5-6 years
Maintenance Cost
$20 DIY
~$100 repair shop
Final Thoughts on BMW N20 Maintenance and Common Problems
As discussed throughout this article the BMW N20 is an overall reliable engine that does not have many common issues. The timing chain and components may be problematic on models prior to 2015, but has since been resolved with an updated design. Oil leaks from the valve cover/gasket and oil filter housing/gasket may begin to become prevalent prior to 100,000 miles due to wear and tear. Additionally, standard maintenance on the vehicle is pretty minor and inexpensive.
Please do keep in mind – simply because something is listed as a common problem in this guide it does not mean it will indefinitely become an issue on every engine. Additionally, because something was not listed does not mean it may not become an issue on certain cars.
Often, the reliability of each specific N20 engine may come down to how well it is maintained, as well as the luck of the draw. Some engines may make it past 100,000 miles without any significant issues, while others may cost thousands of dollars a year in repair bills. A well-maintained BMW N20 engine should generally be a reliable, inexpensive engine to own, all while remaining enjoyable and sporty to drive.
What are your thoughts and experiences on the BMW N20 engine reliability?
Great write up. Thank for this information. My wife got her sister’s 2013 x3 28i this week with 111,000 kilometers or about 70,000 miles. No whining noise or oil leaks. My BMW mechanic (we have a Z4) says that the chain will be a problem, not if. He did say to pay attention to new noises and then have the chain replaced for a cost of ~$4,000. He is a European shop. My local non-bmw car mechanic said he wouldn’t touch it.
Thanks again from Ottawa Canada.
I feel “better informed after reading your’s and other’s comments. I have a 2103 528i, now 126,000 miles and running strong (purchased as 2d owner with 65k miles. I was puckered when I learned of the timing chain issue and was too late to get the class action lawsuit coverage, so I purchased the extended warranty from BMW dealer. Bottom line, and as a DIY car guy, I’ve changed oil and Mahle filter (Castrol Edge – Euro 0w-40w) religiously at 6,000 miles interval and OEM spark plugs at 100k miles. The N20 turbo four is a powerful little powerplant with a sporty throat. I am just now starting to get a rough idle when the engine is warming up, say first 5 miles of stop and go. I think I’ll change out the 4 coils before taking it to a dealer for tech analysis. The new coils and DIY will cost me less that getting in the door at BMW (not knocking their expertise service). Keeping my fingers crossed on the coils, and if no joy after, I’ll take it to BMW for a chain stretch check out etc.
My last E46 (335cic) with M54 six did over 225k miles before I sold it and was running tops with DIY typical maintenance. I made one mistake and didn’t change the serpentine belt tensioner with the belt change at 120k and at about 150k, it broke apart and cost me a towing fee and new radiator–lesson learned the hard way, I guess. Still agree that Bimmer is the ultimate driving machine.
Ciao!
please change typo for model year to 2013 (not 2103)
I have a 2015 328i xdrive sport wagon. I started doing the maintenance when the free services ended. I have 80k miles and have done everything recommended. I like the wagon bc of my dog mostly but for other reasons too. BMW stopped selling them in US this year so I plan to keep it 200k+ miles. I have heard so much conflicting info on timing chain forever fluids and maintenance intervals I take them all for what they are worth. IMO people who change the oil every 3k despite recommendations, etc do so to make themselves comfortable. This is fine but offers no benefit to the engine. Same with other fluids, things have changed. Also the name brands in most cases are literally identical to no names. I get it, I have a 1975 FJ40 with 22k original miles and I baby the hell out of it. Anyway, if you want it I wouldn’t hesitate bc of high miles.
hello everyone, I have a 2013 328i M-sport with the N20 engine. When I come to a stop(hard or slow) the car shakes really bad and will sometimes just shut off all together. With my MAF unplugged, it’ll bog down a little bit, but not shut off. I’m wondering if anyone is having this issue?(my valve cover gasket needs to be replaced and has leaked a substantial amount overtime. I’ve been working too much to have it taken to a shop or repair it myself) I have the valve cover gasket already and plan to replace it in about 2 days when im off work.
My car has the auto stop/start feature. With that being said, with it turned off, the car still shakes really bad(when at optimal temperatures) and either shuts off entirely, or engages the stop/start. Any suggestions?
Failed cam sensors, check the engine codes.
i have some problem until now not solve.. the problem is my bmw f10 engine n20 when i drive at 50mph its jerking, for your information i have change all 4 new ignition coil, new spark plug and, high pressure pump . but the problem still same, jerk and sometime drive train will appear on the screen.. and i also change the turbo solenoid. went i diagnos using autoland vedis 2, the fault come misfire cyilinder 3, serval misfiring.. i change 3 times spark plug but still problem…
Did you find out what was wrong?
Mine starting to have the same problem
How many miles on your car?
Assuming the injectors are ok, you need to set the spark plug gap to 0.5mm solved the issue from what we experienced. Recommended gap is too big and new genuine BMW plugs have been coming in at 1.2mm supposedly pre gapped
Injector piston . I hâd the dame problem
You said you changed the turbo solenoid? Where is it located on the N20 engine? I cannot seem to find it on my 2014 X3 F25 N20.
If you have to add a quart of oil every 900 miles then in 4500.00 miles you would have practically change the oil. I don’t get it. Why change the oil every 7k ?
Fuel injector .same problem
My 2013 328i now has 97,500 miles on it. I bought it with 35K miles, and early in my ownership was the only issues I have had: Bad Fuel Injector, then subsequent Bad Cat. Both were covered on my remaining BMW warranty. Beyond that, I have been keeping up in the maintenance. I have been doing 5K mile oil changes with LiquiMoly 5W-40. My mechanic recently inspected my car and said everything looks good. I will be looking to DIY my coils and spark plugs.
2014 328i M-Sport: About 40,000 km DRIVETRAIN warning, during heavy acceleration in rainy weather. Able to continue home at reduced power and speed. Next day started car but warning was gone and engine power was back to normal. Still under warranty. Dealer checked electrical connections and suggested that there had been a contaminated or loose plug. No further problems. At 43,000 km left rear wheel speed sensor went on vacation and triggered ABS, stabilization and flat-tire monitor warnings. That was a $180 fix at the dealer post warranty.
Drive train is a common issue & mostly caused by the fuel injectors leaks inside the engine due to the high pressure fuel pumping, specially it is occurs in the cold start or in the very cold climate, also the injector problems will leads to carbon build up problem,
Hi EMZ,
You’re right in that leaking injectors may potentially cause internal issues. It’s not good to have un-burnt fuel potentially wiping oil off. As long as the leak is minor and is addressed within a timely manner it is unlikely to cause any harm to the N20. Additionally, I am unsure why you believe a leaking injector would cause carbon build up. First of all, carbon build up occurs on intake valves and it is because N20s are direct injected and fuel is NOT sprayed into the intake ports/valves. Extra fuel would actually help wash away carbon deposits.
Leaking injectors have absolutely nothing to do with carbon buildup. It’s simply a natural occurrence on direct injected vehicles.
Best Regards,
BMW Tuning
Is there a way to check that the injectors are functioning properly and not leaking ?
Hi Michael,
There are a few different potential methods to test. It would be a long explanation, so I’d recommend googling “n54 how to test injectors”. Leaking injectors are very common N54 problems so there is a plethora of information out there.
However, you’ll likely notice when your injector(s) are leaking. Fuel mixture/AFR codes may pop up. You’ll like have a rough idle on cold starts. When a leaking injector is bad enough you’ll notice it in data logs, too.
Best Regards,
BMW Tuning
hi any idea? every what miles should change the engine gear box oil?thanks in advance.
Hi Ahmad,
It’s a good idea to change the transmission fluid every 70,000-80,000 miles. BMW considers it a “life time” fluid which we don’t completely agree with.
Best Regards,
hi admin bmwtuning,
tqvm for ur reply appreciate that.
I have a 2013 320i xdrive with 66k on the clock, clouds of bluish smoke on start up if not used for a few days. Runs well so find it hard to believe valve stem oil seals would fail on such a relatively low mileage engine but can’t think of another cause.
Neil ,
Have you sorted out what was wrong with your BMW?
Most people say its the oil seal in turbocharger shaft, or inlet/incoming oil pipe to the turbocharger,
but bluish smoke generally has to do with fuel burning issue,
As soon as you fix the issue, please share the solution.
After 2 weeks at the dealer they cannot find any mechanical faults car drives well with expected power delivery but they did notice it had too much oil, so the level was reduced to just below the maximum and that seems to have cured the issue. Why oh why did BMW dispense with dipsticks. Old fashioned but reliable and easy to use.
blue smoke is oil not fuel,unburnt fuel is a grey black colour,Blue smoke is oil!.
Dealer confirmed, as, I suspected, that during the pre-delivery service it was over oiled. Reduction of the oil level to the correct amount problem appears to have been resolved. There was a letter in the motoring section of last Saturday’s Telegraph from a guy describing an identical problem with his Porsche Boxster which also turned out to be from too much oil added at a recent service.
As it’s still under dealer warranty it’s going in on Monday for investigation. Oil level seems fine and as its only done 60k I don’t think it’s valve stem oil seals but drives very well so I don’t think the turbo is faulty. My money is on the turbo oil feed pipe (a known fault apparently) or its been over filled with oil and is burning off the excess. Given the smoke is at its worst if the car’s not been used for a while I still think its the oil feed line.
Will post the investigation results /solution when I get it back.
Have the same issue with my 2013 x1. When not driven for a few days a cloud of bluish smoke on start up. Otherwise don’t see anything.
Thanks Neil,
That’s what I think as well.
All the best
2013 328i xDrive purchased in June 2017 with 60 000 miles.. At 70 000 miles in December of 2017 the timing chain and components replaced, transmission oil cooler, thermostat. Now in 2020, the oil filter housing is leaking, as well as the valve cover. Extended warranty was a good investment…to date it cost them $7,300, and there will likely be another $2,500 to follow…Bought the car $22,400 in 2017, is now worth about $13,000, and will have cost about $10,000 in repairs to keep on the road for 3 years. So…the car lost nearly 10 000$ in value for 3 years, cost $10,000 in repairs, plus standard maintenance (brakes, spark plugs, tires, shocks)…NEVER own a BMW without some sort of warranty…Kind of wanted a 340i xDrive, but if I go down that road, I will have to purchase a costly warranty again.
I traded in my 2011 328xi with 97k km for 6k CAD this January, sorry to break it to you,but a 2013 328xi with your mileage would only worth about 10k CAD retail, 8k whole here in Canada
After 50000 km and 6 years of soft use my X3 28i 2012 mod. began to have the noise from the time chain. Replaced with a cost of 2000€ . Unacceptable for a car that supposed to be well build and premium .. Sold after a couple of months because temperature issues began to arise..
I have a 2015 328dxdrive. When the car has been on the highway for about a half hour, it starts to shake on acceleration up a hill. When take my foot off the accelerator, it goes away. Around town, or at slower speeds it does not shake. It is not in the steering wheel It seams like the whole car is shaking or fluttering. I had the transfer case and flex disk changed. Did not help. Any thoughts??
More than likely this is one of your inner cv axles beginning to fail.
If the shaking is from the engine, it is probably the ignition coils. I’ve own several types of vehicles that experienced the same symptoms – shaking upon accelerating at higher speeds.
If the shaking is coming from the drivetrain, check your driveshaft ujoints.
Own a 320i, 2013 with 120,000 miles. Took good care of it, just had to replace the turbo charger then a month later a lower crank bearing appears to have blown. I can’t see spending $10,000 fixing the car but if I can find an engine would it be DIY do-able? I am told that the brand new turbo prob has metal in it because it uses the same oil as the engine so it will need to be replaced. So i would look for an engine with a turbo still attached.
My main question is can a weekend mechanic pull and replace an N20 engine? 2, Can I replace the N20 engine with one from a 328i? Should it just be junked? Any help?
Thanks Mike
10,000 for changing turbines man I would really stop thinking about buying F30!!!
Hello.
Wife has a 2013 x3 turbo L4. Its an early model and the vacuum pump has gone out and alot of oil in the vacuum lines.
The cover had oil in the resivour and was cleaned out. The issue is that there is a vaccume line that extends across the top of the envine and disappears into a wire wrapping with other wires i to the firewall. It is connected to the vaccume line via a tee connector on the turbo side of the engine.
What is its function and where does it lead? I need to clean the oil out from it.
Thank you.
Hi my BMW 3201 2012 crank bearing blew, I have to replace the engine with a second hand one.. is it ok to reuse my existing turbo from previous engine?.. thanks Mick..
I have a 523i am-sport Recently starting bringing up the drive train error on plugging the code error is Vanos exhaust camshaft position not reached,Mechanic suggested changing the vanos exhaust unit will that solve the problem?
I have a 2012 528i with 80k miles and timing chain colapse now at the BMW dealer they said I need a new engine $7,000 plus labor. Any suggestions . It can fix or I need to replace the engine
Carlos, most modern engines are “interference” engines, that means the cylinder at full travel would interfere with the valves at full travel… so when the piston and the valves get out of sync they will collide. I’m sorry to be the (9 month late bearer of bad news)… but a chain failure will often mean an entire engine failure.
Carlos you can check this one: https://orbimotors.com/used-car-engines/bmw/5-series/bmw-f10-528i-185kw-2014-complete-engine-n20b20a-n26-n20/
Hi
I own a 2012 x1 powered by n20 -2L engine. The vehicle has poor acceleration from rest and shows a big half yellow engine check light. The engine has done 120 000km on the clock. There is black carbon soot on tail pipe but no visible smoking. What could causing this?
Regards
George
George have you found the problem yet I have the same thing
Hi guys i Just bought a 2014 328i and I would like to tune it , however before I tune it what do you guys recommend I upgrade? I know 1) is spark plugs but I’m not 100% sure on the rest
If I could get some advise also on future mods that would be great , also I’m only aiming at 300hp no more
Thankyou
Just passed 102k on the 4 series with N26. Had limp mode early on in ownership (2nd owner) and took over maintenance/repair from dealership as they couldn’t get the issue sorted. Replaced plugs and coils with Bosch and only one coil issue since. The pencil coils on these engines are notorious for going out randomly but other than that this engine and car has been rock solid. Tires, Brakes, Plugs, Coils and regular oil changes every 7500 miles. Also had a shop do ATF around 80k as recommended by ZF for the 8HP.
I have a 2015 BMW X1 – I started to lose power going up any hill and a trusted mechanic told us it was the turbo that needed to be replaced at a cost of 3,000. The car has 132,000 miles and I would love to keep it if putting in this work will let me drive it for a couple more years. Is it worth it? would l ove your thoughts.
I enjoyed reading this 😊
One more reason to keep buying Japanese brands. Anything German, but Porsche. I do not understand changing fuel injector, burning oil, failed gaskets, timing chain pulley failure under 100 000KM…hey but it is BMW. LoL.
there is alloy VC in the market for sale tho, idk but something tells me that alloy VC SHOULD do better reliability than something that could melt easier and/or would disintegrate over time, what is it? it’s Plastic! what a surprise…
I have a 2014 428I n20 with 128k runs strong only issue has been a dead coil. I do change the oil every 3,500 miles (cheap insurance) on engine wear. PM Is key with Greman cars. not going to lie with having an early model N20 those timing chains scare me. But so far so good.
No matter the year of the BMW, if use good oil, filter, do not overdue, the chance to engine fail is low.
I’m auto mechanic specialized in German car and I see people buying sofisticad cars thinking the mantenience is the same of toyota, honda, chevy…
Ex.: 2012 toyota prius brake booster failure, my wife almost die without brakes
dodge 3.6 cylinder head problems, overeating, lifters…
ford V8 timing chain at 200k miles
Buick 4 cylinders turbo charger failure after 50k miles
honda V6 timing chain tensioner after 120k miles
CVT transmission, no matter car
like I said, good mantenience make all the difference.
I took 2013 BMW X3 (75,000 miles in mint condition) with absolutely all of the bells and whistles (to include sports package inside and out – $16,000 in options..MSRP $52,000) to the dealership where I have been having it serviced regularly. They said it needed a new engine and they would give me 1,000 for it. They said it was nothing I did or did not do, just bad luck. I started looking at their cars and then several days later decided to take it somewhere to get a second opinion or a cheaper price on an engine.
Can you look at this and tell me what you think? http://www.mkvwa24.com/p/dKsmOq.html
There was a drivetrain malfunction/drive moderately alert and the car went through all gear but seemed to have reduced power when I left it at dealership. There was NOT ANY whining sound nor any evidence of anything leaking on my garage floor as I told the mechanic. He said I did not rev it up enough and I told him I “drove it moderately”. When I picked it up, mechanic had it running in the back of the shop. As I started to make a left turn onto street, I realized it was now only going to first gear. Later the mechanic said it was running so poorly that it was a struggle to get it into the shop (which is just on the other side of the building).. See how clean? Apparently went “struggling” through their car wash and they cleaned the rims on a car that needs a $22,000 engine. They also said it would take at least 3-4 days for them to get to it but I got the video the next business day around lunchtime.
Ever get this sorted out? Sounds like the cars in limp mode. It’s by design. Mine did that too once when the accelerator pedal got overly wet during a detail job (carpet cleaning got inside). Limp mode is just what you describe. Some problem needs to be corrected and could be a small electronic issue like I had.
Curious what are your thoughts on using the required 89+ octane fuel only. Is using 87 standard bad for the N20 over time or am I wasting money buying 93 octane. Thank you
Phil,
Running lower octane fuel will result in worse performance and worse fuel economy. A modern BMW DME is very capable and will recognize the lower fuel quality. In turn, the DME will retard ignition timing to protect the engine from potential detonation/knock (lower octane fuel is less resistant to heat and detonation). Retarding timing results in less efficient combustion, which is why you’ll notice worse performance and fuel economy. The DME may even want to run a slightly richer AFR as an added layer of protection thereby further worsening fuel economy.
Ultimately, the DME is plenty smart and capable of protecting the N20 from potential harm while running lower octane fuels. In the long-term, you may still be subjecting the engine to additional wear that could hurt longevity (though, probably by a small margin). I would advise against running anything under 91 octane in the long-term. Financial benefits of lower octane fuel will be partially negated by worse fuel economy. If gas price and fuel economy are that important to you then there are engines that are much better than the BMW N20.
Regards,
Zach
I’ve got a 2014 X3 Xdrive28i. 130k Just changed battery recently due to increased battery discharge error. Seems to idle fine in park, but when shifting into reverse or drive, theres a Clicking/Ticking noise that isn’t always present. Idle will occasionally become rough momentarily and then return to normal. Doesn’t seem to change even when brakes aren’t depressed once in gear. Problem seems to be intermittent. No codes. Does this sound like the Vanos solenoids need replacement? Anything helps.
Thanks!