I've always been super impressed how quiet and low the NVH is on my 330 , especially when it's gear climbing at very low speeds.. a typical 4cyl would be humming and vibrating.. now I know why the b48 is so balanced! Thanks
Its also because its turbo and has enough torque to not have to go into higher rpm, as well as a great 8spd auto trans. That being said, it’s an exceptional motor.
i have x3 G01 2019 252 hp with B48B20B engine; problems we had: vanos, cracked upper cooling circuit pipe; at the rest of 60,000 miles, i rebuilt the timing, changed the injectors and spark plugs and water pump; the timing was affected by a faulty oil pump that did not pump oil into the crankcase and created friction in the components. otherwise, i am extremely happy with the engine, i change the engine oil and filter at 5000 miles
Bought a used 2019 230i M sport with 46k miles ive done its oil change intervals every 5k miles not a mile later. Beautiful car and smooth motor, now at almost 60k miles its treated me well only thing ive noticed is oil seeping from the cap light seepage but i believe its my sloppyness when filling up with oil hopefully my pcv valve treats me well 🤞
Our 2017 230i with low kms (50K kms) is the same with the engine oil cap seeping a tiny bit of oil. We changed the cap but it didnt help. It's not a huge deal but curious to know why it's doing it. No other issues though. Serviced 6 monthly with 0W-40 and within 5K kms)
Also worth noting that the engine mounts on the TUs seem to fail relatively early (my car, g20, at 45k miles) and are extremely soft- you can easily rock the engine with your hand. Would love to see an aftermarket replacement that isn't completely solid but instead streetable
Currently have a 2018 F30 B48, fully optioned. One of the few cars I actually look forward to driving everyday. It's insanely reliable engine wise, but had only one true breakdown with my coolant pipe. My coolant pipe blew up, leaked, and it was on the highway. Smoke came out of the engine. Fixed it and no issues since. Other reliability issues are more of quality than anything else. Lots of unknown rattles coming from the passenger door side, and I spent endless days trying to figure out what it was, and still haven't found it.
So glad I found this video. Running a B48 in a 2017 Mini Countryman S All4 and it's been faultless in my ownership. That said, it's great to know potential weak points to keep on top of the maintenance. Thanks!
@@the_booniesthey don't...engineers are heavily involved in cost control, engineers make trade offs between cost vs practicality and other considerations.This myth about accountants limiting engineers is hilariously wrong. Yes engineers report to higher ups in an MNC like BMW it's not engineers vs accountants everybody is more on less on the same page
the b58 block and crank is borrowed directly from the b57 diesel, the b48 is that same block with two cylinders lopped off. the b48tu got the same fueling updates and internals as the b58tu. its got the same bore and stroke as the b58 82mm bore 94.5mm stroke (massive stroker engine from factory) but will rev way higher despite the crazy piston speed. On paper the b48 is the best 4 cylinder being made today. You can easily make 7-800whp with a bone stock b48 with just cams, springs, head studs and a better gasket. we have been putting them in e36's lately and they absolutely scoot beter than any of the iron i6's from bmws past. im putting one in my e30 after xmas.
2018 x3 B48TU and just had to do the oil filter housing.. Such crap design to have to drop almost $3000 to have it fixed.. These are not maintenance items, These are core engine components that should not be failing under 100k miles. We love our X3 but come on BMW for all the German Engineering you tout you fail at such basic things which is completely due to bean counters.. Engineer the part to last the lease or the warranty, Anything extra is not a priority. Really great video btw!
the oil filter housing is the same as the b58, wich only cost like $300 and its 8 bolts. it takes about an hour to swap in your driveway with absolutely zero previous wrenching know how and a youtube video. the "plastic" housing is STRONGER than aluminum btw. its carbon ceramic infused composite that actually just LOOKS like plastic. the aftermarket housings are all metal. if your only issue with the engine was a failed oil filter housing at 100k miles thats really good. we only work on bmws at our shop, 12 lifts, 15 bays and oil filter housing jobs are pretty rare. plenty of timing chain and other catastrophic issues though.
@@Mp-jw1qg You might be thinking N55, B48/B58 has it in the back and the intake manifold which is also a water to air intercooler that has to be removed... Its a decent job, Even experienced BMW Indys will tell you its alot of work.
Super amazing research delivered so efficiently. The BMW engine naming convention was well done with the little graphics added. The explanation fills in the gaps on what you read on Wikipedia and other blogs. It is all combined in this well prepared video. I watched the whole thing:-) This is the most well presented FCP engine overview video yet.
I have a B48 X4 with Racechip Tune, hi flow air filter, open exhaust valve flap. It actually does boogie and have quick acceleration. The turbo is very responsive and fun to drive.
Crazy to see how practically all plastic components are the ones to fail here... I own a B48 Supra and am very pleased with it. Currently at 50K Kms in 8 months as its my daily. Hopefully my valve cover won't fail as i no longer have warranty with my tune.
The B48 coolant pump in my vehicle failed at 159,000 km due to leakage at the seal between the base and the unit, specifically the one often praised for its performance (timestamp 3:40). After replacing it with a brand-new unit, the replacement pump failed within 700 km, ejecting coolant at a speed of 150 km/h. Following this incident, the system was repaired again. However, two weeks later, a leak was identified in the main radiator, necessitating its replacement alongside the coolant reservoir tank. Since these repairs, no additional issues with the cooling system have occurred. Additionally, I am experiencing a rough idle when transitioning between N/P and D/R. Engine RPM drops from approximately 700 to 500 during these transitions, accompanied by significant vibrations lasting about one second. The vehicle in question is a late 2017 BMW G30 530i xDrive, German version.
Ran a stage 2 tune since 36k miles. The only thing that needed replacement, Water pump housing and bracket gasket. The oil filter housing and gaskets DID not fail at 108k miles with hard driving on a stage 2. no. the water pump housing bracket gasket failed. My oil supply line gaskets also failed at 108k.
Note to your video; the BMW B46 exhaust is welded together from the cat back. So, the exhaust in the B46 is totally different than a B48 and the coupling is different.
The BMW engine code numbering system doesn't make sense, what about engine code B48B20A and B48B20B? What's the A and B represent? (found in the 320i, 330i, 330e) I know the B48B20B is the better engine to tune and achieve higher tuning results, but what's the difference, what is going on with that numbering system? the performance class you covered only mentioned K, U, M, O, T, S (no A or B ). Any ideas anyone?
Have a BMW 1 series in the UK the BMW 128ti - B48 265 BHP and 400NM and it is a great power unit no issues though only around 16K miles on it!!!...Love the BMW 128ti...
@@Ashley_van_Schooneveld Very similar to the 2 series but in hatchback form, great review with BMW 128ti vs Golf GTI....ua-cam.com/video/K4aoW7LCDK0/v-deo.html
The heat management module does the same thing as the EA839 3.0L V6 in Audi. It have a vacuum actuated shutoff valve for coolant btw block and head. I prefer electric actuator of BMW cuz when it fail the coolant migrate into the vacuum pump and make a mess. Thermostat are regular electronic control. Coolant take 2 min to be hot in the system it's crazy fast.
B48 is slept on, IMO better then B58. I have a 2019 330i and if anything ever happened to it, I replace it with another 330. It's fun, It's nimble its conformable and fuel efficient. Done day plus long road trips, Track days, commuting, back road drives stock and tuned up to E85. Have 50k miles and just experienced my 2nd problem, both are my fault. The first one was an issue when I did a software update and tuned it with a locked DME, last week I snapped my axle doing launch control. But engine is rock solid and never missed a beat
I just got done taking my own 330i (g20) for a 2000 mile road trip. Bbetween the avg 38mpg while hauling stuff, fun on twisty roads with the super-light front end, and epic gas tank range, it's a keeper! I really see it becoming the new sweet-spot for BMW tuners. Awesome cars.
@@AlexNelsonFCPEuro I believe you're right. It will be a future classic, handles better than m340 and when I was doing a road trip from the sf Bay area to los Angeles cruising at 75 or so on highway 5. At one point I was peeking at a trip average of 44 MPG, And if I remember correctly I was on BM3 stage 1 at that point and stock tires. On E I get in the mid-20s cruising on the highway
I've had my F22 230i from new (delivered November 2016) with the 248hp/258lb/ft version, according to Wikipedia it's the B48B20O0.. Currently approaching 124,000 miles. I've had an engine fault code putting it into limp mode back in 2019 which resulted in a new turbo under warranty, with one month remaining of the three years warranty! But no full explanation was provided. That was at around 48k miles. I had the thin block-to-header coolant breather hose fail summer '23 at around 98k miles. The block to radiator hose and plastic spout started leaking summer '24 and was replaced. Now the internet (b48 Facebook group plus these videos generally from the USA) is making me worried about the oil filter housing! I've stuck to the manufacturer advised 20k oil service interval, so far always done at the BMW main deealers. I have however occasionally done a track day with it- 7 in total over the 8 years I've had it. I'm in the U.K.
Thanks for this informative video! Bought my first BMW X3 and surprised how good it rides. Making a note of all items that commonly fail and being doing an oil change every 5000 miles. So many new vehicles are going with plastic parts nowadays.
I have B48A engine which is longitudinal installed in G20. I would like to hear differences between A and B variant internals. If you trust internet, they are saying A variant is some fragile low power variant.
The B48A , I know a few guys running custom stage 1 and stage 2 software with no issues.The main issue is fuel contamination or over fuelling that breaks these engines.
the b48 is smooth at idle, but ive always found it to be a bit "jolty" at the initial takeoff from first gear. idk, could just be me nickpicking but on my F series 430i, ive found it to be a bit annoying in stop and go. Hopefully they fix that in the next few years if they havent already on the G series
@@Rayman.g I actually really like the sound of the B48, it's an old-school 4 cylinder sound akin to something like an old Alfa. Much lower pitched than something like a Mk7 Golf.
@ Honestly this is accurate and I definitely should have clarified. My parents had a G20 loaner while their X3 was in the shop and that actually sounded pretty good. The X3 sounds kind of terrible stock even when the exhaust valve is open. Def could use the MPerf exhaust.
The B actually stands for Baukasten rather than BMW. It’s called Baukasten because they’re modular engines so some parts between the engines in that family crossover.
Thanks for making this video! I have a Stage 2 B48 (F30 330i) and it's been an amazing experience so far! Got to remember to take care of the oil filter housing replacement soon lol. Luckily for me I don't drive that much to begin with
Seems oil filter housing is the most critical component that would be a good precautionary measure. Anyone knows a link to see how this can be DIY’d on a TU engine? I got a B58 but I’m assuming they’re pretty much identical with B48.
Those BMW engine codes confuse me. I have an N55B30M0 rated stock at 302hp and 295lb/ft of torque. This engine was tuned to MPPK which raised this to 320hp and 332lb/ft of torque. Meanwhile an F12/F13 640i have an N55B30O0 rated at 320hp and 332lb/ft of torque. To me it appears those power outputs are based on the engine's factory tuning at stock level. In fact the F12/F13 640i is one of the few models in recent years to have the "40i" designation with an N55 which many models with this engine had the "35i" designation. The "40i" became common place when the B58 started production in 2015
Many thanks for this great review! I’m personally looking for 330i as my next car. It would be useful to know if there are changes in LCI model (which started its life in the middle of 2022 and has a little bit less of power - 245ps here in Europe). Cheers and thanks again!
I believe they added the MHEV system. It improves the fuel efficiency as it helps the engine from the dead start. It also shuts down the engine if you let it coast. There is a guy on the forum who has G31 540ix MHEV and does 9.95 l/100 km, which is absolutely sick for a B58 that drives a lot in the city.
@@MegaGecas Then maybe it was different across G20 and G30 lineup. In G30, it was introduced somewhere in 2020 with LCI models. I am talking about Euro models, could a difference between US models too.
Oh, and I have a 2018 G30 xdrive 5 series and I love this engine. It averages 27 MPG in the city and feels great on acceleration. I also noticed when I was watching a video from Europe, a guy was working on an E90 with an N47 turbo diesel. It looked remarkably like a B48. Double chains on the back of the engine, very similar block structure. I wondered if this engine came from that diesel?
Oil filter housing definitely came from B47 diesel. Manufacturers keep making more plastic couplers directly attached to hot engine block - planned problem as money for repair services
Coming from driving a "big" n/a engine ( s50b32) seems (at least to me) that the b48 does actually fall off after 6k rpm. Dont get me wrong, it's a great engine and the torque curve si nice and wide from low rpm. Again i might be biased because i'm comparing apples to pears. But the fall off on the b48 is noticeable. 😇
I noticed that all weak part of the engine are plastic. I have a B48 gen1 (F30 320i) and recently had oil filter housing failure, coolant leakage.. It was on 107000 km mileage. Replaced with aluminium one.
Have they found a plastic composite that expands and contracts at the same rate as aluminum? I don’t think so. I’ll stick to engines that are older, and still use aluminum for all their engine intakes, valve covers, oil filter housings, transmission pans, etc. Cheap composites just don’t hold up. But, they sure cut costs.
I just bought a 2025 X3 with a B48 engine. It is amazingly smooth as you said. Is this a B48TU (thinking it is but wasn't positive)? Great information in the video, thanks!
@ true, I know the water pump will fail but it seems like there are quite a few failure items on these engines. The block seems very stout though! I’d be worried about the part that coolant could leak into the oil though
@rambow70 in all fairness that part did fail on my 2020 330i at about 8,000 miles.. the audi has been super strong other than a hub bearing and the water pump. And they've both been tuned on e85 since new!
@fcpeuro the B48 is really underated. I know the B58 is even better, but 540i is hard to find and at least a $10k premium. In my country more like $20k. 400 whp B48 will be plenty.
Awesome video! What gets me with these engines is that they produce ~240 hp and do fairly well with fuel economy at the cost of enormous complexity. The coolant leak I just repaired on my 2017 430i with the B48 cost about $600 in parts (my labor was free). The S52 (6-cyl) from the E36 M3 also makes about 240 hp and is way simpler. WTF regarding the PCV valve?! (In older cars the PCV was just a low-dollar part!) Would you go for a more reliable, lower cost engine in exchange for lower power? What if something like the S52 was updated with newer manufacturing and coating technologies and improved VANOS, to provide a medium power, better sounding, low complexity system?
why is your labor free? Just because you do the work yourself doesn't mean the labor was free--you set aside family time or something in order to do the work. Also, I don't know why BMW engineering is like it is. They certainly have odd priorities.
@@bb5242 Good point! I meant it was $600 just in parts. Probably $2k if I had to take it to a shop or dealer! As a test engineer, I enjoy learning about the systems, but I am confounded as to why they have to be so complicated. Not complicated in a beautiful, elegant way. Complicated in a stupid, frustrating, "who chose this solution?" way!
What can you do to not feel the diesel-like vibration on cold start ? Are the engine mounts completely eliminating start-up and cold idle vibration if they are good ?
Wow, this video is a great manual as to why I am not buying another BMW right now after having been a lifelong fan and customer. All sorts of critical components all in plastic that all fail that could have been made durable. You get to 60,000 miles with one of these and you have like $3000 in repairs for stuff that should cost like $500 max. And it's all that expensive because it's all integrated with big important stuff that and/or buried and needs lots of labour and huge incremental parts cost. With these types of repair bills planned into the regular running of the car and the risks of larger failures that come with them, there is no reason to not go for a Porsche at this point. Sad to see such great machines turned to disposable junk. These machines are not durable.
I have a F34 328 GT with the N20 engine and I never had an issue with this car. It’s unbelievable. Stepping up to a Porsche is a big jump. I hear you though.
Daam, if this video was release 1 year earlier... I would have wait for a B48 instead of my 220i N20B20... A not so reliable engin as so many poeple say. Continu the good work, love your video.
I have a B48 with 210K miles on it. No issues so far. Finger's crossed.
Oil Filter Housing changed ? B48 TU ? or F generation ?
That's awesome! I'm a high mileage guy too. Hope mine does well.
120k km on mine and no issues, though i did replace my coolant expansion tank a couple of months back
Change your engine oil & coolant earlier than BMW recommends, you will be fine.
@ That too (2017 G30 530i btw if youre asking)
This video is one more reason to love FCP Euro. Been a happy customer for a decade now. 😊
B58 NEXT UP
Yesss
😄
You know it - beeeeeffffy video coming on that
132k miles nothing major
Same video but 2 zylinters more
I've always been super impressed how quiet and low the NVH is on my 330 , especially when it's gear climbing at very low speeds.. a typical 4cyl would be humming and vibrating.. now I know why the b48 is so balanced! Thanks
Its also because its turbo and has enough torque to not have to go into higher rpm, as well as a great 8spd auto trans. That being said, it’s an exceptional motor.
Nice shoutout to VehicularDIY. I hope his channel along with this video continues to build traction for B48 builds!
B48 the world!
Such a great and informative video, thanks Alex! I'm already making a list of potential replacement parts for my B48 equipped F31.
Our pleasure - you know where to go when the time comes 😅
hmm next build on speedacademy?
@@rickyho2140 You bet F31 build incoming!
i have x3 G01 2019 252 hp with B48B20B engine; problems we had: vanos, cracked upper cooling circuit pipe; at the rest of 60,000 miles, i rebuilt the timing, changed the injectors and spark plugs and water pump; the timing was affected by a faulty oil pump that did not pump oil into the crankcase and created friction in the components. otherwise, i am extremely happy with the engine, i change the engine oil and filter at 5000 miles
you do understand how ridiculous that is, right? 60k miles is 1960s Chrysler quality.
Can confirm smoothness and virtually undetectable idle noise.
Bought a used 2019 230i M sport with 46k miles ive done its oil change intervals every 5k miles not a mile later. Beautiful car and smooth motor, now at almost 60k miles its treated me well only thing ive noticed is oil seeping from the cap light seepage but i believe its my sloppyness when filling up with oil hopefully my pcv valve treats me well 🤞
Our 2017 230i with low kms (50K kms) is the same with the engine oil cap seeping a tiny bit of oil. We changed the cap but it didnt help. It's not a huge deal but curious to know why it's doing it. No other issues though.
Serviced 6 monthly with 0W-40 and within 5K kms)
I'm furiously taking notes 📝💨
Also worth noting that the engine mounts on the TUs seem to fail relatively early (my car, g20, at 45k miles) and are extremely soft- you can easily rock the engine with your hand. Would love to see an aftermarket replacement that isn't completely solid but instead streetable
Currently have a 2018 F30 B48, fully optioned. One of the few cars I actually look forward to driving everyday. It's insanely reliable engine wise, but had only one true breakdown with my coolant pipe. My coolant pipe blew up, leaked, and it was on the highway. Smoke came out of the engine. Fixed it and no issues since.
Other reliability issues are more of quality than anything else. Lots of unknown rattles coming from the passenger door side, and I spent endless days trying to figure out what it was, and still haven't found it.
So glad I found this video. Running a B48 in a 2017 Mini Countryman S All4 and it's been faultless in my ownership. That said, it's great to know potential weak points to keep on top of the maintenance. Thanks!
Another great german motor wounded by cost cutting and a focus on lease length ownership.
The lease life - is surely a thing....
@@the_booniesthey don't...engineers are heavily involved in cost control, engineers make trade offs between cost vs practicality and other considerations.This myth about accountants limiting engineers is hilariously wrong.
Yes engineers report to higher ups in an MNC like BMW it's not engineers vs accountants everybody is more on less on the same page
the b58 block and crank is borrowed directly from the b57 diesel, the b48 is that same block with two cylinders lopped off. the b48tu got the same fueling updates and internals as the b58tu. its got the same bore and stroke as the b58 82mm bore 94.5mm stroke (massive stroker engine from factory) but will rev way higher despite the crazy piston speed. On paper the b48 is the best 4 cylinder being made today. You can easily make 7-800whp with a bone stock b48 with just cams, springs, head studs and a better gasket. we have been putting them in e36's lately and they absolutely scoot beter than any of the iron i6's from bmws past. im putting one in my e30 after xmas.
Have this engine in the new JCW mini I bought for my Dad. Gosh what a rocket it is in a light mini. Glad to see the tuning capabilities.
Excellent presentation, thanks
2018 x3 B48TU and just had to do the oil filter housing.. Such crap design to have to drop almost $3000 to have it fixed.. These are not maintenance items, These are core engine components that should not be failing under 100k miles. We love our X3 but come on BMW for all the German Engineering you tout you fail at such basic things which is completely due to bean counters.. Engineer the part to last the lease or the warranty, Anything extra is not a priority. Really great video btw!
the oil filter housing is the same as the b58, wich only cost like $300 and its 8 bolts. it takes about an hour to swap in your driveway with absolutely zero previous wrenching know how and a youtube video. the "plastic" housing is STRONGER than aluminum btw. its carbon ceramic infused composite that actually just LOOKS like plastic. the aftermarket housings are all metal. if your only issue with the engine was a failed oil filter housing at 100k miles thats really good. we only work on bmws at our shop, 12 lifts, 15 bays and oil filter housing jobs are pretty rare. plenty of timing chain and other catastrophic issues though.
@@Mp-jw1qg You might be thinking N55, B48/B58 has it in the back and the intake manifold which is also a water to air intercooler that has to be removed... Its a decent job, Even experienced BMW Indys will tell you its alot of work.
Super amazing research delivered so efficiently. The BMW engine naming convention was well done with the little graphics added. The explanation fills in the gaps on what you read on Wikipedia and other blogs. It is all combined in this well prepared video. I watched the whole thing:-) This is the most well presented FCP engine overview video yet.
Oh man, I understand why they use plastic parts but that oil filter housing just seems like a disaster waiting to happen. 😬 great video guys!
Mine started leaking coolant at 80 k then again at 114 k
I have a B48 X4 with Racechip Tune, hi flow air filter, open exhaust valve flap. It actually does boogie and have quick acceleration. The turbo is very responsive and fun to drive.
Crazy to see how practically all plastic components are the ones to fail here... I own a B48 Supra and am very pleased with it. Currently at 50K Kms in 8 months as its my daily. Hopefully my valve cover won't fail as i no longer have warranty with my tune.
The B48 coolant pump in my vehicle failed at 159,000 km due to leakage at the seal between the base and the unit, specifically the one often praised for its performance (timestamp 3:40). After replacing it with a brand-new unit, the replacement pump failed within 700 km, ejecting coolant at a speed of 150 km/h. Following this incident, the system was repaired again. However, two weeks later, a leak was identified in the main radiator, necessitating its replacement alongside the coolant reservoir tank. Since these repairs, no additional issues with the cooling system have occurred.
Additionally, I am experiencing a rough idle when transitioning between N/P and D/R. Engine RPM drops from approximately 700 to 500 during these transitions, accompanied by significant vibrations lasting about one second.
The vehicle in question is a late 2017 BMW G30 530i xDrive, German version.
Ran a stage 2 tune since 36k miles. The only thing that needed replacement, Water pump housing and bracket gasket. The oil filter housing and gaskets DID not fail at 108k miles with hard driving on a stage 2. no. the water pump housing bracket gasket failed. My oil supply line gaskets also failed at 108k.
Thanks for the insights - we always appreciate hearing first hand experience like this!
Very helpful video even for me as a bmw dealership tech 🙌
Note to your video; the BMW B46 exhaust is welded together from the cat back. So, the exhaust in the B46 is totally different than a B48 and the coupling is different.
Good call - we'll have to look into that fitment on our site
excellent discussion of what to look out for.
Thank you for putting this together. Very informative! As an owner of a 2020 JCW Clubman and a 2021 M235i xDrive, I’m invested in the platform 😂
The BMW engine code numbering system doesn't make sense, what about engine code B48B20A and B48B20B?
What's the A and B represent? (found in the 320i, 330i, 330e)
I know the B48B20B is the better engine to tune and achieve higher tuning results, but what's the difference, what is going on with that numbering system? the performance class you covered only mentioned K, U, M, O, T, S (no A or B ). Any ideas anyone?
You guys and vehicular diy are helping me understand these engines. F30 b48❤
Happ to help! Its a great platform
My G20’s oil valve covered failed at 72k. Paid 3.5k to get it replaced at the stealership
Solid work! Lots of info about the B46/48 platform. Thank you for the analysis of what works and what might need attention during regular service.
That is with out a doubt the best explanation of the B46-B48 difference. Did you say if they both had forged crankshaft?
Have a BMW 1 series in the UK the BMW 128ti - B48 265 BHP and 400NM and it is a great power unit no issues though only around 16K miles on it!!!...Love the BMW 128ti...
We don't get this model in North America, the smallest BMW car available here is the 230i
@@Ashley_van_Schooneveld1 series is almost as big as a 3 series so
@@lilibra6224 The 3 series has really grown in size and the one is really compact compared to the 3...cars just seem to get bigger and bigger..
@@Ashley_van_Schooneveld Very similar to the 2 series but in hatchback form, great review with BMW 128ti vs Golf GTI....ua-cam.com/video/K4aoW7LCDK0/v-deo.html
@@vMaxHeadroom saw f20 and f30 side to side almost no difference in length en width
The heat management module does the same thing as the EA839 3.0L V6 in Audi. It have a vacuum actuated shutoff valve for coolant btw block and head. I prefer electric actuator of BMW cuz when it fail the coolant migrate into the vacuum pump and make a mess. Thermostat are regular electronic control. Coolant take 2 min to be hot in the system it's crazy fast.
@@ambitiouspurrlike 5 min to get to 200f on a b58tu
JCW b48 w 122k miles. 200 miles a day give or take . never had a check light yet… 💯
Great video, Alex!
I own N52 and N20. They are getting up in years, so I'm glad to learn that B48TU is a worthy successor.
Some of the reliability of the N52 with the potential the N20 had 😃
that purge valve is a curse from gods.
Agree
B48 is slept on, IMO better then B58. I have a 2019 330i and if anything ever happened to it, I replace it with another 330. It's fun, It's nimble its conformable and fuel efficient. Done day plus long road trips, Track days, commuting, back road drives stock and tuned up to E85. Have 50k miles and just experienced my 2nd problem, both are my fault. The first one was an issue when I did a software update and tuned it with a locked DME, last week I snapped my axle doing launch control. But engine is rock solid and never missed a beat
nigga said better than the b58 LMAOOO
So are you tuned or stock?
@WondurrEdits tuned 42,000 of the 50,000 mi on there with BM3. Right now running a custom Navardi flex fuel tune
I just got done taking my own 330i (g20) for a 2000 mile road trip. Bbetween the avg 38mpg while hauling stuff, fun on twisty roads with the super-light front end, and epic gas tank range, it's a keeper! I really see it becoming the new sweet-spot for BMW tuners. Awesome cars.
@@AlexNelsonFCPEuro I believe you're right. It will be a future classic, handles better than m340 and when I was doing a road trip from the sf Bay area to los Angeles cruising at 75 or so on highway 5. At one point I was peeking at a trip average of 44 MPG, And if I remember correctly I was on BM3 stage 1 at that point and stock tires. On E I get in the mid-20s cruising on the highway
i have a 2022 BMW 230i US model. i added a catted down pipe burger motorsport intake and some exhaust mods i love it. am at 35k miles
Excellent video, very informative and detailed. Could you please make one for the new B58. Thank you!
Please make a video about the B38, especially the version in the F20/F30.
Why are you ignoring the 20i variant? 120i, 220i, 320i, I have a 420i. I know they also do a 520i.
I've had my F22 230i from new (delivered November 2016) with the 248hp/258lb/ft version, according to Wikipedia it's the B48B20O0..
Currently approaching 124,000 miles.
I've had an engine fault code putting it into limp mode back in 2019 which resulted in a new turbo under warranty, with one month remaining of the three years warranty! But no full explanation was provided. That was at around 48k miles. I had the thin block-to-header coolant breather hose fail summer '23 at around 98k miles. The block to radiator hose and plastic spout started leaking summer '24 and was replaced. Now the internet (b48 Facebook group plus these videos generally from the USA) is making me worried about the oil filter housing!
I've stuck to the manufacturer advised 20k oil service interval, so far always done at the BMW main deealers. I have however occasionally done a track day with it- 7 in total over the 8 years I've had it. I'm in the U.K.
B48 also has the same internals as a b58. really strong 4 cyl
Thanks for this informative video! Bought my first BMW X3 and surprised how good it rides. Making a note of all items that commonly fail and being doing an oil change every 5000 miles. So many new vehicles are going with plastic parts nowadays.
Just got a used x3 30i so ill decently do your recommended preventive maintenance
Thank you for putting this together 2018 G30 B46 52k Miles
I have B48A engine which is longitudinal installed in G20.
I would like to hear differences between A and B variant internals. If you trust internet, they are saying A variant is some fragile low power variant.
The B48A , I know a few guys running custom stage 1 and stage 2 software with no issues.The main issue is fuel contamination or over fuelling that breaks these engines.
Already bolted a BMW 6MT to a B46. Used a euro 520D.
16:20 Similar to the MKV GTI, had to replace them twice, really not ideal.
the b48 is smooth at idle, but ive always found it to be a bit "jolty" at the initial takeoff from first gear. idk, could just be me nickpicking but on my F series 430i, ive found it to be a bit annoying in stop and go. Hopefully they fix that in the next few years if they havent already on the G series
I think we can all agree, it's an excellent engine but it is not a handsome engine 😆
Not a good sounding one stock either lol
It's handsome if it's totally nude! Lol
@@Rayman.g I actually really like the sound of the B48, it's an old-school 4 cylinder sound akin to something like an old Alfa. Much lower pitched than something like a Mk7 Golf.
@ Honestly this is accurate and I definitely should have clarified. My parents had a G20 loaner while their X3 was in the shop and that actually sounded pretty good. The X3 sounds kind of terrible stock even when the exhaust valve is open. Def could use the MPerf exhaust.
Sounds 10 times better than the N 26
Yall should do a oil filter housing job for this and b58
That DIY is coming soon! Along with the heat management module.
Would love to see a similar video to the Mercedes M264-M260 engines.
May be time for a Kyle video then 🤔
4:23 why isnt the 6 cylinder engine called the the B68 or something why B58 ?
Excellent video, my320i have the B48C, but you didn't mention this type of engine and it's sepcifics. Thank you
The B actually stands for Baukasten rather than BMW.
It’s called Baukasten because they’re modular engines so some parts between the engines in that family crossover.
This
Thanks for making this video! I have a Stage 2 B48 (F30 330i) and it's been an amazing experience so far! Got to remember to take care of the oil filter housing replacement soon lol. Luckily for me I don't drive that much to begin with
pakistan
@ nope
@@farhanchowdhury1534 India
@ nope
Interesting vid. Don't own a BWM or have much Interest in the engines.
downloaded to save forever. thanks for this!
smart
330i has 255hp, is it possible to tune it to the x2 m35i's 312hp?
G20 330i owner. Phenomenal car.
Looking to get one eventually, to pair with my F15
What tune?
Totally agree! I love mine! After crossing 10k miles since I bought it, I have to say they are very slept on.
The thermostat cracked on me😀
Excellent information 👍 thank you.
Look at the all network pipes and cables!
Seems oil filter housing is the most critical component that would be a good precautionary measure. Anyone knows a link to see how this can be DIY’d on a TU engine? I got a B58 but I’m assuming they’re pretty much identical with B48.
DIY coming within the next two months!
Those BMW engine codes confuse me. I have an N55B30M0 rated stock at 302hp and 295lb/ft of torque. This engine was tuned to MPPK which raised this to 320hp and 332lb/ft of torque. Meanwhile an F12/F13 640i have an N55B30O0 rated at 320hp and 332lb/ft of torque. To me it appears those power outputs are based on the engine's factory tuning at stock level. In fact the F12/F13 640i is one of the few models in recent years to have the "40i" designation with an N55 which many models with this engine had the "35i" designation. The "40i" became common place when the B58 started production in 2015
Many thanks for this great review! I’m personally looking for 330i as my next car. It would be useful to know if there are changes in LCI model (which started its life in the middle of 2022 and has a little bit less of power - 245ps here in Europe). Cheers and thanks again!
I believe they added the MHEV system. It improves the fuel efficiency as it helps the engine from the dead start. It also shuts down the engine if you let it coast. There is a guy on the forum who has G31 540ix MHEV and does 9.95 l/100 km, which is absolutely sick for a B58 that drives a lot in the city.
@@MatiKosa no, the engine I am talking about is pre MHEV addition. That thing has been added roughly in the middle of 2024.
@@MegaGecas Then maybe it was different across G20 and G30 lineup. In G30, it was introduced somewhere in 2020 with LCI models. I am talking about Euro models, could a difference between US models too.
Oh, and I have a 2018 G30 xdrive 5 series and I love this engine. It averages 27 MPG in the city and feels great on acceleration. I also noticed when I was watching a video from Europe, a guy was working on an E90 with an N47 turbo diesel. It looked remarkably like a B48. Double chains on the back of the engine, very similar block structure. I wondered if this engine came from that diesel?
Likelihood of them trying to leverage prior engineering for parts of it is high!
Based off an existing diesel would explain the better reliability. 😂
Oil filter housing definitely came from B47 diesel. Manufacturers keep making more plastic couplers directly attached to hot engine block - planned problem as money for repair services
Coming from driving a "big" n/a engine ( s50b32) seems (at least to me) that the b48 does actually fall off after 6k rpm. Dont get me wrong, it's a great engine and the torque curve si nice and wide from low rpm. Again i might be biased because i'm comparing apples to pears. But the fall off on the b48 is noticeable. 😇
Amazing detail, thank you.
VW Golf RRRR is 330HP 2.0L turbo, super quick and smooooooooth
Please do B58 as well!!
I noticed that all weak part of the engine are plastic. I have a B48 gen1 (F30 320i) and recently had oil filter housing failure, coolant leakage.. It was on 107000 km mileage. Replaced with aluminium one.
BMW runs the B58 in the BTCC 330e
Love my B46D!
You need to make a video like this for the 2.0l TFSI Audi engine in the B9
Have they found a plastic composite that expands and contracts at the same rate as aluminum? I don’t think so. I’ll stick to engines that are older, and still use aluminum for all their engine intakes, valve covers, oil filter housings, transmission pans, etc. Cheap composites just don’t hold up. But, they sure cut costs.
My 2017 530i has the water air intercooler
I just bought a 2025 X3 with a B48 engine. It is amazingly smooth as you said. Is this a B48TU (thinking it is but wasn't positive)? Great information in the video, thanks!
When will the website show 2024 BMW parts in the search feature?
Can you make the same about b47 series?
B48 gen 1 also had water to air cooled intake manifold
How does it compare with Audi's excellent EA888?
I think N Engines "New Gen" started with N42 that was in 2001 not 2006. There is also missing out a M73 engine with V12, the No. 7 is for V12 🙂
What are some of the first mods we should do to the b46/b48 engine ?
Can you do a video on the new 2024 and up G60 B48
Here after purchasing a Supra 2.0 ✌️
At first I was sold but damn some of those issues at 50-60k miles.. I’ll stick with the EA888!
I own both , the water pump will degrade on the ea888 motor and in similar fashion the valve cover seal will leak near the sensor as well.. 😮
@ true, I know the water pump will fail but it seems like there are quite a few failure items on these engines. The block seems very stout though! I’d be worried about the part that coolant could leak into the oil though
@rambow70 in all fairness that part did fail on my 2020 330i at about 8,000 miles.. the audi has been super strong other than a hub bearing and the water pump. And they've both been tuned on e85 since new!
Great info ! Thanks bro
I have a B48 in my 530i.
Even current Stage 1 with MG Flasher is a beast.
Next up is G25/550 😅😅
Small hit of a tune goes a long way on these!
@fcpeuro the B48 is really underated.
I know the B58 is even better, but 540i is hard to find and at least a $10k premium. In my country more like $20k.
400 whp B48 will be plenty.
What about that coolant hose leading into the block underneath the intake?
Soo good video!😊
Awesome video! What gets me with these engines is that they produce ~240 hp and do fairly well with fuel economy at the cost of enormous complexity. The coolant leak I just repaired on my 2017 430i with the B48 cost about $600 in parts (my labor was free). The S52 (6-cyl) from the E36 M3 also makes about 240 hp and is way simpler. WTF regarding the PCV valve?! (In older cars the PCV was just a low-dollar part!) Would you go for a more reliable, lower cost engine in exchange for lower power? What if something like the S52 was updated with newer manufacturing and coating technologies and improved VANOS, to provide a medium power, better sounding, low complexity system?
why is your labor free? Just because you do the work yourself doesn't mean the labor was free--you set aside family time or something in order to do the work.
Also, I don't know why BMW engineering is like it is. They certainly have odd priorities.
@@bb5242 Good point! I meant it was $600 just in parts. Probably $2k if I had to take it to a shop or dealer! As a test engineer, I enjoy learning about the systems, but I am confounded as to why they have to be so complicated. Not complicated in a beautiful, elegant way. Complicated in a stupid, frustrating, "who chose this solution?" way!
What can you do to not feel the diesel-like vibration on cold start ? Are the engine mounts completely eliminating start-up and cold idle vibration if they are good ?
Wow, this video is a great manual as to why I am not buying another BMW right now after having been a lifelong fan and customer. All sorts of critical components all in plastic that all fail that could have been made durable. You get to 60,000 miles with one of these and you have like $3000 in repairs for stuff that should cost like $500 max. And it's all that expensive because it's all integrated with big important stuff that and/or buried and needs lots of labour and huge incremental parts cost.
With these types of repair bills planned into the regular running of the car and the risks of larger failures that come with them, there is no reason to not go for a Porsche at this point. Sad to see such great machines turned to disposable junk. These machines are not durable.
I have a F34 328 GT with the N20 engine and I never had an issue with this car. It’s unbelievable. Stepping up to a Porsche is a big jump. I hear you though.
Good video, is there any way of lowering running temp on these engines since the are at 110C / 230F at normal operating conditions ?
Yep
Add an oil cooler.
How ?
Daam, if this video was release 1 year earlier... I would have wait for a B48 instead of my 220i N20B20... A not so reliable engin as so many poeple say. Continu the good work, love your video.
Even with all the N20's issues it still has a sweet spot in our heart (check out our entire F30 series)!
Great Video! What about the B38?