[OUGrad05]

My wife and I purchased an X3 back in Feb 2016. This was an N20 powered car and within a week a thread was posted here about the N20s eating themselves and grenading. Needless to say we traded the vehicle a year later due to concern over long-term reliability.

I'm considering an X1 for the utility, space and ability to haul bikes easily. Another BMW 4 cyl raises some concerns. The B48 is quite efficient but so is the N55 and B58...but neither are available in the X1. I also like the X3 where I can get the B48 or B58.

Anyway, how is the B48 for reliability? What issues are there? Are these engines eating themselves like the N20 did?

What kind of efficiency are you guys seeing both in town and on road trips?

[rjd_F30]

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. (I don't own one, but from what I've heard).

I'll also add that the N20 is a reliable engine as well. I've had a great experience with mine thus far. I'm assuming by "eating themselves" you are talking about the timing chain problem (?) which is a fairly isolated issue that not many people are affected by. It's easy to get a biased perception because all the 95% of problem free N20's live happily with their owners not coming on here to tell how easy it's been to maintain. However, that 5% that have major issues post on here about it and make it seem like they're almost a majority, which they are not.

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by rjdnyy224

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. (I don't own one, but from what I've heard).

I'll also add that the N20 is a reliable engine as well. I've had a great experience with mine thus far. I'm assuming by "eating themselves" you are talking about the timing chain problem (?) which is a fairly isolated issue that not many people are affected by. It's easy to get a biased perception because all the 95% of problem free N20's live happily with their owners not coming on here to tell how easy it's been to maintain. However, that 5% that have major issues post on here about it and make it seem like they're almost a majority, which they are not.

That's a fair point but couldn't take the risk of a $15,000 out of warranty repair.

[BunkerJ]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

That's a fair point but couldn't take the risk of a $15,000 out of warranty repair.

I'd say that risk is probably the same as it is to be struck by lightning. lol

But I agree, I've heard good things about the B series engines so far. I do recall reading something about an issue carried over from the Mini's variant of the B model engine (I'd assume B48) I'd have to research it though.

[steve498]

I've got a b48 engine 320i and thus far it's been faultless. I've just clocked over 35,000 miles and it is still smooth and fast. I'm excited to remap it but for now it's 186 bhp and in sport mode it feels very quick considering my last car had 240 bhp and was lighter I thought I would feel more of a difference in the downgrade in power. I will dyno it before mapping as it feels more like 200 bhp but I've been quoted 260 on the remap.

[Sweeney921]

41,000 miles on my B46, no issues whatsoever. Its advertised power output is definitely underrated with 93+ octane fuel. I'm pretty pleased with it so far!

[f30_louie]

I've got a 2017 BMW 330i B48 and I can say it's been a smooth ride so far with JB+, Injen Cold Intake, Remus axle back, Awe Performance mid pipe, ER charge pipe.

[Sweeney921]

Originally Posted by f30_louie

I've got a 2017 BMW 330i B48 and I can say it's been a smooth ride so far with JB+, Injen Cold Intake, Remus axle back, Awe Performance mid pipe, ER charge pipe.

What do you think of the ER charge pipe? Considering it for my B46 simply to increase durability.

[tpliquid]

Originally Posted by f30_louie

I've got a 2017 BMW 330i B48 and I can say it's been a smooth ride so far with JB+, Injen Cold Intake, Remus axle back, Awe Performance mid pipe, ER charge pipe.

didnt know injen make intake for B46? PIcs?

[cfm56d7b]

B-series engines have been designed to be modular. B58 is the B48 engine with 2 extra cylinders. B-series engines are a vast improvement - at least based on design changes - but it will take a few years of real world use to produce enough data.

My 2017 BMW 440i Gran Couple has B58 engine. So far so good.

[steve498]

I have done so far 36000 miles in my 320i b48 and it has been faultless. Still a very quick car to me personally and hasn't skipped a beat.

[f30_louie]

Originally Posted by tpliquid

didnt know injen make intake for B46? PIcs?

For B48 you meant? Yes I've been waiting and Injen finally came out with it recently! I will take a picture soon!

[f30_louie]

Originally Posted by Sweeney921

What do you think of the ER charge pipe? Considering it for my B46 simply to increase durability.

I was in between the VRSF or ER, but went with the ER instead as I found more happy customers.

[tpliquid]

Originally Posted by f30_louie

For B48 you meant? Yes I've been waiting and Injen finally came out with it recently! I will take a picture soon!

US we have b46. Actually x-pH made new thread about the intake. Doesn't look bad.

[Digital_83]

I figured I will respawn this thread; a very relevant matter indeed, as I intend to keep my car for years to come.

So, how your B46/48/58 engines are doing today ? '')


edit: nothing really major to write home about , but comments do create some data-pool stats I guess lol

[chowser51]

No issues with my 2018 B46. Just past 55k miles on it. Installed bootmod3 stage 1 93 on it this weekend. Loving it.

[azuritschwarz]

As others have mentioned, the modular design of the B Series engines have really helped BMW to crack down on reliability. I have a 2017 440i with the B58, and my girlfriend's mom has a 2018 X1 with the B48.

Absolutely no issues on either car with mine being at 42,000 kilometres (~ 26,000 miles) & the X1 being around 58,000 kilometres (~ 36,000 miles).

I would go for the X1 if you are using it as more of a commuter, but go for the X3 (either engine) if you care more about driving experience, space, engine size, etc. There's no wrong choice!!!

[MilanF30]

I wouldn't hope too much, it's too early to judge reliability... It still has a bicycle chain and plastic guides, instead of proper double row chain and guides with metal core. And another negative point is that the chain is at the back of the engine
BMW should take a look at honda or toyota engines to see how to properly make timing chain assembly

[yupetc]

Originally Posted by MilanF30

I wouldn't hope too much, it's too early to judge reliability... It still has a bicycle chain and plastic guides, instead of proper double row chain and guides with metal core. And another negative point is that the chain is at the back of the engine
BMW should take a look at honda or toyota engines to see how to properly make timing chain assembly

[Deleted content for info based off a wrong motor comparison]

[MilanF30]

You should first look at the basic info about an engine platform, then write something... somebody might read this and get the wrong picture.

In N series engine they DON'T use single chain! One chain is driving the cams, and other drives oil pump with its vibration dampers, which is by the way double-row chain and with it own guides and tensioner of course and it's very short. That didn't help tho, as oil pimp chain is known to fail also.

And regarding similarities between engines you have mentioned, well, they both have 4 cylinders They are nothing alike... B engine is closed deck, while N20 is open deck, different pistons, head, timing chain assembly, even intake manifold is different where B engine have integrated water-to-air intercooler etc...

[yupetc]

Originally Posted by MilanF30

You should first look at the basic info about an engine platform, then write something... somebody might read this and get the wrong picture.

In N series engine they DON'T use single chain! One chain is driving the cams, and other drives oil pump with its vibration dampers, which is by the way double-row chain and with it own guides and tensioner of course and it's very short. That didn't help tho, as oil pimp chain is known to fail also.

And regarding similarities between engines you have mentioned, well, they both have 4 cylinders They are nothing alike... B engine is closed deck, while N20 is open deck, different pistons, head, timing chain assembly, even intake manifold is different where B engine have integrated water-to-air intercooler etc...

You're totally correct. I've mistaken it with the timing chain setup with the N18 motors that I previously repaired out of a mini cooper (that's a Peugeot based engine). The B48 has a few variants and the one that I got my hands on are also from the Mini Cooper S (2015, IIRC). That one doesn't have the integrated water-to-air intercooler in the intake manifold. But yes, I need to edit my post and take out those erroneous info so not to mislead the fellow members. In terms of B48 engine, I currently am working with rebuilding the engine block with beefier internals with forged components, so while the block is open, I can still see lots of details from that motor. I'll just need an actual N20 to do a side-by-side and not mislead the peeps up here.

[David9962000]

Anymore feedback on the B48 reliability?