If you want your B48 to last as long as possible, just be sure to take proper care of it. Nonetheless, the N20 offers impressive performance despite its small size. The B48 is without any serious common problems to date. Ultimately, the BMW B48 engine may not be perfect, but it is still a reliable and powerful option for those in the market for a BMW vehicle. These are valid questions, however its not an exact science. Newer LL-14+ oils are designed with fuel economy and emissions in mind. That is not to say either engine is unreliable. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Yes, we believe the BMW B48 is a pretty reliable engine. Required fields are marked *. Thanks to the modularity of the designs, the very same forged piston rods that go into the B58 are also . Time will tell if more widespread problems arise with this engine because it is still relatively new. 20i models generally receive the lower output B48 engines. Bimmerly is a hub for BMW enthusiasts. Bringing the BMW community together. She has had the car since new and it now has around 70k km on. We are hoping to soon add an F80 M3 and F82 M4 GTS. Point is standard maintenance isnt the cheapest. Bringing the BMW community together. Here are some tips for maintaining your BMW B48 engine to keep it running smoothly: The cost of repairing a BMW B48 engine can vary greatly depending on the specific issue you're facing. Stick with known, quality oils. It couldnt be more different than the N20. 1. However, we believe it is a step in the right direction. This allows natural oil blow-by to cake itself on the B48 intake ports and valves. Its working for the B58, though. I've got a b48 engine 320i and thus far it's been faultless. Again, the B48 engine should be an even further improvement. Check out our B48 downpipe upgrade guide for more. If left unchecked, the engine could run low on coolant. "Emission System Problem" in Honda Civic - What Does This Mean. The most powerful version, found in 28i models, makes 241hp and 258tq. The B47 has proven to be reliable so far in my mothers 320d. B46 vs B48 Emissions Emissions standards are really the . My guess is that the G20 will prove to be very reliable too. Turbo engines love to burn through spark plugs. However, the Champion spark plugs hold up very well for a stock turbo B48. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2022/MC-10212788-9999.pdf, Your email address will not be published. Greetings, due to work changes and because I use the car to work, Ill soon change from a f30 330D(2018) inline six to the g20 330e(2021) which have the b48 engine, I never did tunning, and never gonna do to any work bmws so I wanted to ask about the TIMING CHAIN of the B48 engine, it will need to be changed around which miles? A cold air intake works by moving the engines air filter away from the engine, so that . . If you hear a rattling noise coming from the engine, it could be a sign of a timing chain tensioner problem. Use the following keys to search for a specific topic: We will break the B48 FAQ guide into the following subjects: The B48 is a 2.0L single turbo engine that is part of the BMW B series modular engines. The internals and design are plenty strong to surpass 200,000 miles. However, theyre cheap repairs for the DIY crowd (though time consuming repairs). and get all the new deets right in your inbox, 2023 | Privacy Policy | Terms | Built by Honeycomb Media, The #1 resource for BMW performance modifications, Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form, BMW X1 vs X3 Specs, Performance, Reliability, & More. This engine is direct inject, high compression with two turbos and as a result high pressure in crank case and high temperature with potential to lead to carbon build up on intake valves. Most Reliable BMW Engines - M20 Engine The M20 is another inline 6, to rave about. Do your thorough research and weigh the potential pros and cons before making a decision, if you are still trying to decide on engines. As you can see, the B58 has a very similar boost curve, but makes around 4PSI more than the N55 across virtually the whole rev range. Onsomeshid 4 mo. But i wouldnt go to far on tuning if the engine doesnt have forged pistons and rods. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Read our post about N20 mods here: BMW N20 350hp. This issue is caused by an incorrectly assembled asbestos-free gasket. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Turbo + pump + intake + downpipe + plugs and youre making big power. The N54 sees carbon build-up as often as every 40,000 to 60,000 miles. The B48 is also a seemingly reliable engine thus far. Especially tuned and modded N20 or B48 engines. 2. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The cause of coolant loss is usually a failing coolant hose or coupling that is letting small amounts of coolant escape. Normally in the BMW world FBO refers to a tune, intake, downpipe, and intercooler. Gonna be hard to tell as it's only been out a few years, but generally I'd consider it a reliable and solid engine. Toyota uses the B48 engine in some of their models, notably the Toyota Supra. Additionally, responsible for delivering the impressive power, the upgraded 302hp B48 receives a larger turbo. The resulting damage is also similar: the timing chain can stretch or snap causing damage to the rocker arms, cam carrier, guides & valves. Well, nothing is perfect. For several people, BMW is the manufacturer to look to for dependability and of course, sleek vehicles. B58 Engine Limits Simple Answer. ~300-350whp. Modern engines such as the B48 do a great job of keeping carbon buildup to a minimum, but constant stop-and-go driving and short trips can slowly build up carbon around the intake valves. However, stick with 50/50 if you live in an area thats subject to near or below freezing temperatures. Is the BMW 2.0 turbo engine reliability? BMW's B48 engine is also the successor to the 2.0L turbo N20 engine. As such, youll notice the B48 and B58 have the same bore, stroke, compression, etc. Following the N20, BMWs B48 packs a solid punch for a 2.0L inline 4. At least when you compare the B48 and B58 reliability to that of the earlier N54, N55, N63, S65, etc. BMW changed to a top mount air-to-water intercooler design. She is a proud owner of a BMW M3 and has been an active member of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (BMW MOA) for many years. To solve this issue, BMW dealers will reinstall the gasket and reorient it in the correct position. These engines perform great and have very good fuel economy. B-series engines have been designed to be modular. Considering it for my B46 simply to increase durability. My n20 120i 2016 is w that same noise Is that normal? Rough idle can be a frequent issue on many engines. In 2018, she decided to combine her passion for BMWs by creating a blog specifically for BMW enthusiasts in the region. BMW M20 Engine. If youre in a warmer climate year round you can get away with 60% water and 40% coolant. Well touch on this topic in the tuning & mods section. and get all the new deets right in your inbox, 2023 | Privacy Policy | Terms | Built by Honeycomb Media, The #1 resource for BMW performance modifications, Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form, BMW B48 BM3 Tuning Guide Info & Horsepower Gains, BMW X1 vs X3 Specs, Performance, Reliability, & More, BMW B46/B48 Intercooler & Heat Exchanger Guide, Ultimate BMW F30 Buyers Guide: Reliability & Performance. So far, the B48 appears the more reliable engine. The BMW B48 engine reliability is still up for debate, but all signs point to an excellent BMW engine. Anyways, B48 maintenance isnt horrible as shown above. For B48 you meant? While it's normal for engines to use up some oil, excessive consumption can indicate a problem. *Well write a B48 common problems article in the near future and link to it here. The B58 engine is one of the most reliable and high-performing engines in the BMW lineup. My wife and I purchased an X3 back in Feb 2016. Turbo BMW engines like the B48 burn through spark plugs and ignition coils fairly fast. BMW B48 The BMW B58 engine can handle around 600-650whp and 550-600wtq on the stock block and internals. Nonetheless, well lay it out as straight forward as possible. My 2017 Mini Cooper S has a little oil residue at the intake prior to the turbo. However, B48 is the widely accepted engine code for the B46 and B48. Could you help me on that or fine me someone who can do that for a reasonable price. Though, this is on built N20s with a larger turbo. As with the N20, the B48 comes slightly underrated from the factory. You could do a full big turbo stock block b58 build in a day on stands with a floor jack. The lower level variants actually gain way more than the N20. No issues at all, starting to feel a little stutter when driving at a constant speed with a cold engine.. could be some deposit on the intake valves since this is direct injection. Explore Our Forums. A fairly common issue on early-production BMW B48s issue is a turbo return line leak. Already a solid improvement over the 3.0L naturally aspirated N52 engine. Most 30i models come in at 252-258 horsepower. Yes, we think the BMW B48 engine is fairly dependable. This is usually associated with a difficult-to-spot coolant leak. Within the modular B series of engines, it does fall short of the B58 which seems to be the most reliable engine in the family. The lines might be long and itll be a wait and see for codes. There is still a lot of time, development, and testing N55 | B48 | B58 | N20 Peak power gains may appear underwhelming for the cost of an upgraded FMIC. Some may shame BMW for cutting costs. "Passenger restraint system malfunction" BMW X3 Whats This? How much PSI can the B48 stock turbo handle without ruining longevity? Recommended Communities. Yes, the B48 is a reliable engine that doesn't have major failure points, but still requires maintenance and attention in some spots. A faulty ignition coil or a clogged fuel filter can cause this issue. The B48 unit, on the other hand, is the successor of the previous N20 generation of engine and is equipping a vast amount of models, including the 20i versions, but also the 30i/40e versions of. If you have any feedback, comments, or corrections about any of our content please let us know! We recommend changing the oil every 5,000-7,000 miles. The B58 is a marginally larger engine displacing 2,998cc compared to the N55s 2,979cc and weighs 18 lbs more, but while making notably more power. However, you may make it well past without issues. However, you will need to replace/rebuild the turbocharger at some point if you plan on keeping the car for a very long time. Its not too bad on a stock engine, however spark plug life can decline rapidly when tuned. Some of it simply comes down to the luck of the draw, maintenance, etc. A tune-only can bring spark plug life down to about 30,000 miles. On paper, the B48 is a stronger more capable engine (that doesnt necessarily mean its easier to get power out of the B48). You may also notice your engine misfiring. These can range in cost from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars to fix. The redesigned, third-generation X3 picks up and improves upon where the previous version left off, keeping its title as one of the best-driving compact SUVs. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. A higher output version of the B48 is in some 2019+ 35i models. The B48 also has drop-forged cracked connecting rods. A tune and bolt-ons push the N20 to 300+whp. Here are some of these problems: Some drivers have complained about a knocking or ticking noise coming from the pump, which can be caused by a faulty component or lack of lubrication. The only thing they have in common is that they are both 2L turbos. Down the road you could stack the JB4 with a back-end flash for the ultimate tuning solution. Yes, we believe the BMW B48 is a pretty reliable engine. Additionally, the N20 was tasked with replacing BMWs wildly successful inline 6 engines. Aftermarket testing shows numbers closer to 230-240whp. Valve cover is the same. Some BMW owners experience an oil leak with their B48 engine. The B48 will still advance some especially as more and more start to come out of warranty. We know the older 2.0L N20 engine can handle about 350whp and 350wtq before problems normally arise. Stage 1 93 octane: up to 16% HP / 26% TQ See here for data: BMW N20 / B48 Quarter Mile Rankings, https://www.facebook.com/groups/244324833434651. Though the bump in compression to 11 to 1 is questionable. Seeing online reports from owners that it start causing issue, Correct link to the recall. We suspect some normal BMW problems to pop up like the cooling system, rubber gaskets, etc. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Its a single turbo. However, keep in mind that attempting to repair your engine on your own can be risky and could potentially result in further damage if not done correctly. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Some B48 owners have also noticed that their engines consume oil at an alarming rate. For now, the B48 seems to be free of any common problems. It is also worth mentioning that BMW has made efforts to address these issues through recalls and updates to the engine design. Design [ edit] Compared with its N20 predecessor, the B48 uses a more undersquare design, and engine block in "closed-deck construction". The recalls that impact the 2020 BMW X3 reliability ratings include: 20V601000 - Debris in the battery can cause an electrical fire. pretty cost prohibitive though. The engine also faced similar issues with the timing chain and wastegate failure. Dmitry has been an editor and author at Cararac.com since 2015. This is a tough one. That said, we're likely writing this article too soon. Nowack (SAE SN) test a bit lower with higher viscosity oil. Another note, the B48 is a part of BMWs modular B series engine objective. 320hp on the 10.2:1 (B48a20b). Im hearing a electronic beep when I start up my b48 430i. By / may 31, 2022 may 31, 2022 although the n20 is a reliable engine overall , the earlier models are plagued with timing. Web when the timing and oiling problems of the n20 are resolved, the b48 will be a very reliable engine in the long run. At least as compared to the previous N54, N55, N63, S65, etc., the reliability of the B48 and B58 is superior. Get the turbo oil line leak addressed if your engine is affected, and keep an eye out for possible coolant leaks and the B48 will power your BMW for thousands of miles. We review the N55's performance and reliability. Since it's overbuilt in some regards, increasing its performance for improved drivability isn't a problem. Yes I've been waiting and Injen finally came out with it recently! The N20 marks a big change to the inline 4, turbo engine. Yes, the B48 is a reliable engine, especially if we compare it to the N20 which had major timing chain issues. We wrote an article about the max boost the stock B48 turbo is capable of, Check out our B48 downpipe upgrade guide for more, 2017-present X2 20i / 25i / 28i / 30i / M35i, Oil & Filter: $60-100 every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, Coolant: $30-200 every 80,000 to 100,000 miles, Spark plugs: $79 every 15,000 to 60,000 miles, Ignition coils: $169 every 40,000 to 90,000 miles, Walnut blasting: $400-600 every 100,000+ miles. Content on bimmerfest.com is generated by its users. The carbon that builds up is the remnant of the incomplete combustion process. Otherwise, the N20 is plagued by typical BMW issues. On this engine the chain is located right between the motor and the transmission; unlike how on the N20s chain located at the front crank location. The B46 is the Super Ultra Low Emissions spec (SULEV) and that is the standard engine in the US market. Please let me know Gains with bolt-on parts, higher octane, E85 mixtures, and larger turbos are even higher. Previous Thread | Next Thread Posting Rules You may not post new threads Yes, it's expensive to maintain a 3-Series BMW once it's outside of the factory or CPO warranty. The limits of the B48 are still rather unknown. Although, the B58 is successful with its 11 to 1 compression, so we expect the same from the B48. If you're looking for a very powerful daily driver and your budget allows you to, go for the B58 engine. You can say we are somewhat N54 fanatics. Tally how many spark plug wires are present. At higher mileage, excess carbon build-up might lead to a rough idle. Use your own judgement, but we like to change our BMW oils every 5,000 to 6,000 miles. The lower-spec version produces 473 hp at 6,250 rpm and 443 lb-ft of torque at 2,600-5,950 rpm. We recommend the following B48 spark plug replacement intervals: Some of this also depends on your driving habits. Regular maintenance and keeping an eye on engine performance can also help to prevent these issues from occurring. I am about to buy a 2016 320i M sport with a stage 1 tune currently pushing out about 260hp and this article was very reassuring. It's not that expensive and will require a tow given the size of the leak when it breaks. Gasket oil leaks can be expensive repairs at the shop. 4. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Weve seen dynos showing nearly 400whp. A tune and bolt-ons will likely push B48 powered BMWs into the 165-175mph ballpark. The NGK 97506 spark plugs are OE for the older N20 engine. Not too expensive, but they can add up over time. BMW N20 Engine Reliability, Known Issues, and More. We aim for the information on all of our pages to be as accurate as possible. Can , In V6 or V8 engines, the spark plug wires are on both sides of the engine. I'd love an F31 with the B48 freshxdough 2 yr. ago Oil changes are important on these if you want max reliability. With 473 hp (503 hp in Competition models) and 443 lbft of torque, it outputs significantly more power than even the higher output version of the B58, which comes in at 382 hp & 369 lbft of . Otherwise, the cooling system, valve cover gasket, and oil filter housing gasket are weak points. Both 2L turbos faulty ignition coil or a clogged fuel filter can cause an electrical fire engine code for next! 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Know the older N20 engine can handle about 350whp and 350wtq before problems normally arise little oil residue the. Reinstall the gasket and reorient it in the right direction bolt-ons push the N20, the B48 is standard. B48 Emissions Emissions standards are really the engine thus far both sides of the engine could run on! To combine her passion for BMWs by creating a blog specifically for BMW enthusiasts in the B48!