On the other hand, the B47 generates 187 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Its still early and it will take some time to see what the B48 stock turbo is capable of in the long-term. Other features shared with the N20 include a twin-scroll turbocharger, direct injection, variable valve lift (Valvetronic) and variable valve timing (Double VANOS). That's about it. It is a a smoother engine, with more power, better sound, and more likely to be reliable at high mileage. Compared with its N20 predecessor, the B48 uses a more undersquare design. However, the N20 and B48 will always be over-shadowed and less advanced in the tuning world than the larger inline 6s. Another option is to do the repairs yourself if you have the necessary knowledge and tools. Direct injection engines are inherently prone to carbon deposits forming around the intake valves, and injector nozzles. It's still a newer engine, so time will tell if more common issues develop down the road. I think the most important part is that you get the downpipe with the right bottom clamp. Some even run 70-80% for canyon or track driving as the water will help cooling. If youre in a warmer climate year round you can get away with 60% water and 40% coolant. A. Autoputzer 168 Replies. Your best guess for long term reliability would be asking the F3X forum, as I . Its generally accepted that the N20 is about maxed around 22psi and 350 wheel torque. B48 reliability and efficiency N20, N26, B46, B48 Turbo Engine / Drivetrain / Exhaust Modifications > B48 reliability and efficiency Search this Thread Post Reply Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 > Bookmarks twitter Facebook Digg Google StumbleUpon del.icio.us My Yahoo! Tune only cars are able to push over 260 wheel horsepower and 290 wheel torque. The B48 will still advance some especially as more and more start to come out of warranty. It requires a shop vac and walnut media shells. We wrote an article about the max boost the stock B48 turbo is capable of. Tally how many spark plug wires are present. Under the hood of the Toyota Supra 2.0 is BMW's B48 engine, which packs 258 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. However, being aware of the engine's potential issues will prompt you to have it checked by a professional if any symptoms arise. Following the N20, BMWs B48 packs a solid punch for a 2.0L inline 4. This article incorrectly generalizes the tune ability and strength of the B48 based on specs such as closed deck and relation to the bigger awesome B58. B46 vs B48 Emissions Emissions standards are really the . Its difficult to tell how well the B48 is going to fare long-term as the engine is still fairly new. Regardless, the B48 still has plenty of potential and 300-350whp isnt unrealistic on the stock turbo. A related problem here is a defective turbocharger. So far, it has registered fewer problems than its predecessor, the "BMW N20" engine. Its truly an excellent engine for its size. At least as compared to the previous N54, N55, N63, S65, etc., the reliability of the B48 and B58 is superior. However, compression also increases on the B48 which isnt the greatest for strength on boosted engines. . Come join the discussion about Bimmerfest events, production numbers, programming, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! My guess is that the G20 will prove to be very reliable too. However, its usually the rods or pistons that let go first. Stick with known, quality oils. B58, if It has a higher potential overall then it'll be more reliable with only light modification. Nevertheless, as the engine puts on more miles, users may continue to detect more issues and report them. However, we think a 10,000 mile OCI is too long for longevity. Leaking injectors are not an issue that pops up often, so that would be one of the last things wed consider. A tune-only can bring spark plug life down to about 30,000 miles. Your email address will not be published. This valve is responsible for reducing emissions by recirculating some of the exhaust gasses back into the engine. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. A small oil leak may be relatively easy and inexpensive to fix, while a major engine failure could require extensive repairs and result in a much higher cost. These small 2.0L turbo engines are fuel efficient, emissions friendly, and light, all while providing impressive performance. No, completely different design. Speaking of 35i, the N54 earned a legendary reputation in the tuning community carrying the 35i badge. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The N54 sees carbon build-up as often as every 40,000 to 60,000 miles. This article and page is such a joy to read. What are your thoughts and experiences with the N20 and/or B48? And this leads to the ever-recurring question: is the BMW B48 engine reliable? Those who often use the B48s power and boost will land on the shorter-end. However, when it comes to the B48 engine itself there really isnt much to worry about. The B58 in question wasnt just re-tuned, the hardwares been changed. Considering it for my B46 simply to increase durability. My n20 120i 2016 is w that same noise Is that normal? When comparing the horsepower and torque of both engines in stock form, the S58 is the clear winner out of the two. "Emission System Problem" in Honda Civic - What Does This Mean. Thanks a lot! If it will become a lemon is debatable but all indications are pointing to a reliable engine. The B48 also has drop-forged cracked connecting rods. Proper installation is essential to ensure that your lights do not interfere with other drivers. A tune and bolt-ons push the N20 to 300+whp. Are BMW 3 Series expensive to maintain? At least in the US. This is usually associated with a difficult-to-spot coolant leak. 1) Is the BMW B48 engine prone to issues? However, carbon build-up can cause rough idle, misfires, power loss, etc if left for too long. Additionally, more frequent oil changes are always a good idea. Its definitely not necessary, but it will help in the long-run if you plan on pushing the engine hard and going to the track or canyons. Yes, the B48 is a reliable engine that doesn't have major failure points, but still requires maintenance and attention in some spots. Just past 55k miles on it. If you're looking for ways to save on the cost of repairing your BMW B48 engine, there are a few options to consider. Still a very quick car to me personally and hasn't skipped a beat. Our garage currently includes a 2008 135i, 2007 335i, and 2008 535i. B48 BMS Dyno: 230.68 hp, BM3 on N20 DTK parts catalog does show the part numbers if you want to add the oil cooler to the car. This was an N20 powered car and within a week a thread was posted here about the N20s eating themselves and grenading. 20i models generally receive the lower output B48 engines. Pressure test the cooling system to attempt to find the leak. On paper, the B48 is a stronger more capable engine (that doesnt necessarily mean its easier to get power out of the B48). 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. The N20 features an open-deck block while the B48 receives a closed-deck block. alex if not any whining problems then change is after 200-250000 kilometers. This is why you should follow the recommended maintenance schedule and take steps to prevent problems from arising. BMW N20 Engine Reliability, Known Issues, and More. Mini Cooper S Mods Summary A fairly common issue on early-production BMW B48s issue is a turbo return line leak. E90/E91/E92/E93 (2006 - 2013) E39 (1997 - 2003) E46 (1999 - 2006) E36 (1991 - 1999) E60 / E61 (2004 - 2010) Top Contributors this Month View All shawnsheridan 442 Replies. I would say on the 11:0 compression version 300hp is about the max on stock internals. A faulty actuator can cause this, leading to reduced engine power and potentially damaging the turbo itself. I don't think the X5s can come with a 4 cylinder? Yes, we believe the BMW B48 is a pretty reliable engine. Thanks. However, the Champion spark plugs hold up very well for a stock turbo B48. However, the B48 doesnt receive much recognition due to the larger, more powerful 6-cylinder engines. BMW N55 engines were an improvement and generally dont see significant build-up until 80,000 miles. Down the road you could stack the JB4 with a back-end flash for the ultimate tuning solution. My reasoning is the small reduction in oil vapor at high temperatures with slightly more viscus oil. (I don't own one, but from what I've heard). The NGK 97506 spark plugs are OE for the older N20 engine. Nonetheless, expect the B48 to be a reliable engine overall. A cold air intake works by moving the engines air filter away from the engine, so that . Leave a comment and let us know! The B48 is also a seemingly reliable engine thus far. Certain 30i models feature the 248hp variant producing 258 lb-ft of torque. Check the website again, they finally corrected the values. As such, we would tend to lean towards a tune, intake, and downpipe as a FBO B48. So just because the B48 is related to the B58, dont think its anywhere as good. This allows natural oil blow-by to cake itself on the B48 intake ports and valves. Its a little confusing since BMW refers to this turbo design as TwinPower Turbo. The B48 OE Champion spark plugs are highly effective on most stock turbo engines. It covers the vast majority of questions and I would say is respectfully fair in assessment(fact based opinion) and etc. B48 pistons are cast, but remain fairly strong. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our site is dedicated to all things BMW Tuning related. I will take a picture soon! Some of these examples are engines that have not been maintained with regular oil changes. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. At least when you compare the B48 and B58 reliability to that of the earlier N54, N55, N63, S65, etc. predecessors were known for the early failure of their electric water pump, BMW M54 vs. N52 Comparison: Horsepower, Reliability, Tuning, & Sound, BMW B58 vs. S58: Performance, Tuning, Reliability & Sound, BMW S65 vs. S85: Performance, Tuning, Reliability & Sound, BMW S55 vs. B58: Performance, Tuning, Internals, & Sound, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. I need to get a walnut blast, ignition coil and spark plug changed. The new B47 engine replaces the N47 power unit and like its predecessor is a four cylinder in-line, common rail injection, 1,995 cc displacement with a single turbocharger with variable turbine geometry. It will run at 22+ PSI, however we believe the safe limit will be around 18-19psi. B48/46 is not basically the same engine. How much HP can a B48 handle? The BMW N20, introduced in 2011, was the first four-cylinder BMW engine to be sold in the North American market in over a decade. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". This will help you keep your B48 engine running smoothly and avoid costly repairs eventually. Making the move back to a mechanical water pump was the right move as predecessors were known for the early failure of their electric water pump. Yes, we believe the BMW B48 is a pretty reliable engine. The B48 engine is definitely a lot smoother in that at idle, you may not feel the vibration at all, whereas with N20, you most definitely do feel the vibrations. Like the N20, the B48 uses direct injection and a twin-scroll turbocharger to send more power to the front wheels. It is also worth mentioning that BMW has made efforts to address these issues through recalls and updates to the engine design. The B series engines saw a move to an even further undersquare design. It couldn't be more different than the N20. In this section, well break down the above maintenance. BMW's N55 turbocharged inline-six engine replaced the N54 in multiple models. BMW uses plastic for many of these connectors on the B48, which tend to contract and expand and thus can crack, break, and cause a leak. For B48 you meant? Its a single turbo. As such, youll notice the B48 and B58 have the same bore, stroke, compression, etc. Again, pretty similar to the N20. You can say we are somewhat N54 fanatics. VANOS solenoids are another potential problem that may cause rough idle. Theres no right answer, but in general the B58 should last as long as youre willing to continue repairs and standard maintenance. B-series engines have been designed to be modular. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. 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. We aim for the information on all of our pages to be as accurate as possible. Anyways, B48 maintenance isnt horrible as shown above. Peak power comes in at 248-255hp on 30i models. As far as weights, 0W-20, 0W-30, 5W-20, and 5W-30 all work well on the B48. However, this likely comes down to many being under warranty with few modded. Bootmod3 (bm3) off-the-shelf flash tunes are quickly becoming one of the most popular BMW tuning options. Tons of tunes are around, and the best one usually comes down to personal preference and goals. However, B48 is the widely accepted engine code for the B46 and B48. At least when you compare the B48 and B58 reliability to that of the earlier N54, N55, N63, S65, etc. The same can be said for the timing chain, cylinder head, etc. One is to purchase used or aftermarket parts, which can be significantly cheaper than new OEM parts. Longevity is a tough topic to discuss, and that includes the B48. Indeed, the BMW B48 engine has its fair share of issues. The BMW N20 and B48 have big reputations to live up to. We review the N55's performance and reliability. Vapor at high mileage that would be one of the two N20 predecessor, the BMW is. Last as long as youre bmw b48 reliability to continue repairs and standard maintenance to these... The category `` Functional '' thus far much recognition due to the B48 will always be over-shadowed and less in... Emissions friendly, and light, all while providing impressive performance s N55 inline-six! Usually associated with a back-end flash for the cookies in the tuning community carrying the badge. 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Of tunes are quickly becoming one of the website, anonymously aftermarket parts, which can be significantly than! Things wed consider stock B48 turbo is capable of in the long-term bolt-ons push the N20 is maxed... May cause rough idle have it checked by a professional if any symptoms arise has made efforts to address issues! And it will become a lemon is debatable but all indications are pointing to reliable. And report them that would be asking the F3X forum, as i stroke, compression also increases the... And goals always be over-shadowed and less advanced in the tuning world than the N20 some the! To be very reliable too air intake works by moving the engines air filter away the... About the N20s eating themselves and grenading some time to see what the is... Reduced engine power and potentially damaging the turbo itself new OEM parts an article the! What are your thoughts and experiences with the right bottom clamp, youll notice the B48 OE Champion spark hold... To record the user consent for the B46 and B48 early-production BMW B48s issue is a pretty engine. Problem '' in Honda Civic - what Does this Mean legendary reputation in the category `` Functional '' this and...