BMW 3 Series F30Saloon2011–2019
Every engine fitted to the F30-generation BMW 3 Series — from the 1.6-litre N13 four-cylinder to the 2.0-litre N20 and B48, and the 3.0-litre N55 and B58 six-cylinder turbos.
Real UK costs, honest failure data, and the N20 timing-chain question that defines this generation's ownership story.
Backed by 380+ real UK F30 enquiries in 2025 [BMW-VERIFIED].
Engine Database
Every engine fitted to the F30 saloon specifically — from the 2011 launch through the 2015 LCI facelift and the introduction of the B-series modular engines.
Overview
The BMW F30 is the sixth generation of the BMW 3 Series, produced from October 2011 to June 2019. It marked a significant departure from its predecessor (the E90) by being the first 3 Series generation powered exclusively by turbocharged engines, with no naturally aspirated options available. The F30 also introduced electric power steering, replacing the hydraulic system of the E90.
The engine line-up evolved substantially over its production run: early cars used the N13 1.6-litre four, N20 2.0-litre four, and N55 3.0-litre six petrols, alongside N47 2.0-litre and N57 3.0-litre six diesels. The 2015 Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) facelift brought BMW's modular B-series engines — the B38 three-cylinder, B48 four-cylinder, and B58 six-cylinder — replacing the N-series units in most applications. The F30 was succeeded by the G20 3 Series in 2019.
Key Facts
Market Intelligence
The F30 3 Series generated 380+ real UK engine enquiries in 2025 [BMW-VERIFIED], concentrated on the 2.0-litre N47 and N20 engines as the parc exits warranty and timing-chain concerns come to the fore.
04Best & Worst Engines
Best Diesel Overall
B47D20 2.0-litre (190 bhp) 320d LCI — The post-2015 B47 diesel addressed the N47's defining weakness — the rear-mounted timing chain. With improved chain tensioner design and a more robust bottom end, the B47 is the diesel to choose in the F30. EGR cooler issues are recall-addressed, and DPF clogging is manageable with regular motorway driving.
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Who it's for: high-mileage buyers who want the sweet spot of economy and performance.
Best Petrol Overall
B48B20 2.0-litre (252 bhp) 330i — The 252 bhp B48 four-cylinder is the sweet spot in the F30 petrol range. It delivers genuine performance — 0-60 in 5.8 seconds — with the economy of a four-cylinder and, crucially, none of the N20's timing-chain anxiety. It's the engine that makes the F30 a genuinely compelling used buy.
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Who it's for: buyers who want real performance without six-cylinder running costs.
Highest Risk
N20B20 (pre-2015 328i) — The N20's plastic timing chain guides wear prematurely, leading to chain slack and, in catastrophic cases, engine destruction. The whining noise on revving is the classic warning sign. Pre-March 2015 production cars are the highest risk.
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Who it's for: only buyers with documented timing-chain replacement — and a healthy contingency fund.
Most Expensive Failure
N57D30 (335d) — The six-cylinder diesel's timing chain and turbocharger wear can result in expensive repairs. A full reconditioned replacement runs £4,500–£7,500 — and that's before addressing the associated turbo and fuel-system work that often accompanies high-mileage failures.
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Who it's for: buyers who want effortless six-cylinder torque and accept the premium.
Best Value
B48B20 2.0-litre (184 bhp) 320i LCI — The post-2015 184 bhp B48 offers the perfect balance of performance, economy, and reliability for the F30. It's the most common F30 petrol, parts are widely available, and the recon cost is significantly lower than the six-cylinder options.
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Who it's for: the majority of F30 buyers who want a dependable daily driver.
Most Overlooked
B58B30 3.0-litre (326 bhp) 340i — Often overshadowed by the M3, the 340i's B58 delivers 326 bhp and 450 Nm of torque — enough for 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. It's considered the most reliable modern BMW six-cylinder, with none of the N55's VANOS issues and none of the N20's timing-chain anxiety.
“”
Who it's for: buyers who want genuine performance without the M3's running costs.
Best Diesel Overall
B47D20
2.0-litre (190 bhp) 320d LCI — The post-2015 B47 diesel addressed the N47's defining weakness — the rear-mounted timing chain. With improved chain tensioner design and a more robust bottom end, the B47 is the diesel to choose in the F30. EGR cooler issues are recall-addressed, and DPF clogging is manageable with regular motorway driving.
“”
Who it's for: high-mileage buyers who want the sweet spot of economy and performance.
Best Petrol Overall
B48B20
2.0-litre (252 bhp) 330i — The 252 bhp B48 four-cylinder is the sweet spot in the F30 petrol range. It delivers genuine performance — 0-60 in 5.8 seconds — with the economy of a four-cylinder and, crucially, none of the N20's timing-chain anxiety. It's the engine that makes the F30 a genuinely compelling used buy.
“”
Who it's for: buyers who want real performance without six-cylinder running costs.
Highest Risk
N20B20
(pre-2015 328i) — The N20's plastic timing chain guides wear prematurely, leading to chain slack and, in catastrophic cases, engine destruction. The whining noise on revving is the classic warning sign. Pre-March 2015 production cars are the highest risk.
“”
Who it's for: only buyers with documented timing-chain replacement — and a healthy contingency fund.
Most Expensive Failure
N57D30
(335d) — The six-cylinder diesel's timing chain and turbocharger wear can result in expensive repairs. A full reconditioned replacement runs £4,500–£7,500 — and that's before addressing the associated turbo and fuel-system work that often accompanies high-mileage failures.
“”
Who it's for: buyers who want effortless six-cylinder torque and accept the premium.
Best Value
B48B20
2.0-litre (184 bhp) 320i LCI — The post-2015 184 bhp B48 offers the perfect balance of performance, economy, and reliability for the F30. It's the most common F30 petrol, parts are widely available, and the recon cost is significantly lower than the six-cylinder options.
“”
Who it's for: the majority of F30 buyers who want a dependable daily driver.
Most Overlooked
B58B30 3.0-litre (326 bhp) 340i — Often overshadowed by the M3, the 340i's B58 delivers 326 bhp and 450 Nm of torque — enough for 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. It's considered the most reliable modern BMW six-cylinder, with none of the N55's VANOS issues and none of the N20's timing-chain anxiety.
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Who it's for: buyers who want genuine performance without the M3's running costs.
Engine
Typical Mileage
Common Major Failure
Repair Cost (Specialist)
Replacement Cost (Recon)
Ownership Verdict
Underpowered -best avoided unless exceptional
Risk vs Reward -pre-2015: budget for chain work
Solid Choice -reliable six, but higher running costsBest Value -reliable, simple three-cylinderBest Petrol -the sweet spot
Premium Choice -performance costsHighest Risk -chain failure is catastrophicBest Diesel -improved over N47Premium Diesel -effortless torqueEngineTypical MileageCommon Major FailureRepair Cost (Specialist)Replacement Cost (Recon)Ownership VerdictUnderpowered -best avoided unless exceptionalRisk vs Reward -pre-2015: budget for chain workSolid Choice -reliable six, but higher running costsBest Value -reliable, simple three-cylinderBest Petrol -the sweet spotPremium Choice -performance costsHighest Risk -chain failure is catastrophicBest Diesel -improved over N47Premium Diesel -effortless torque
The F30 rule
A £3,200–£6,000 N20 recon against a £4,000–£8,000 early F30 sits at 40–150% of the car's value. On a sub-£6,000 example, that brushes our 70% BMW threshold -we'll honestly tell you to walk away. Against a well-kept £10,000+ example, the same recon drops to a routine 32–60% -a repair decision, not a financial one. Value the car first.
Key Takeaways
Which F30 Costs Least To Own?
B38 1.5-litre 318i -cheapest recon, simplest architecture.
Which F30 Costs Most To Own?
N57 335d -timing chain and turbo repairs add cost.
Which F30 Is Best Value?
B48 330i LCI -the sweet spot between performance and running costs.
N20
Timing Chain Guide Wear
Affected models:
F30 320i, 328i (2012–2015, pre-LCI N20 engines).
Typical failure mileage:
60,000–100,000 miles.
Root cause:
The plastic timing chain guides on N20 engines wear prematurely, causing chain slack. A whining noise when revving is the classic warning sign. If ignored, the chain can slip, causing catastrophic engine damage. Pre-March 2015 production cars are the highest risk.
Tiered Cost Table
Preventative (Repair)
Dealer
Specialist
£1,800–£3,000
£1,200–£2,500
Chain, guides, tensioners replacement
Catastrophic (Replacement)
Dealer
Specialist
£5,000–£8,000
£3,200–£6,000
Full reconditioned engine
Our Recommendation
On any pre-2015 F30 N20, have the timing chain inspected immediately -a £1,200–£2,500 preventative repair is cheaper than the £3,200–£6,000 replacement that follows if ignored.
N47
Diesel Timing Chain Tensioner Failure
Affected models:
F30 316d, 318d, 320d (2011–2015, pre-LCI N47 engines).
Typical failure mileage:
60,000–100,000 miles.
Root cause:
The rear-mounted timing chain on N47 diesel engines -a design shared with the E90 -receives the last oil feed and is tensioned by a plastic guide that degrades over time. Cold-start rattle is the classic early warning; ignored, it causes catastrophic engine failure.
Tiered Cost Table
Preventative (Repair)
Dealer
Specialist
£1,500–£2,800
£1,000–£2,500
Chain, tensioner, guides replacement
Catastrophic (Replacement)
Dealer
Specialist
£4,500–£7,000
£3,200–£5,500
Full reconditioned engine
Our Recommendation
On any pre-2015 F30 diesel, have the timing chain inspected at 60,000 miles -a £1,000–£2,500 preventative repair is cheaper than the £3,200–£5,500 replacement that follows if ignored.
B47
Diesel EGR Cooler Failure
Affected models:
F30 318d, 320d (2015–2019, LCI B47 engines).
Typical failure mileage:
60,000–120,000 miles.
Root cause:
The EGR cooler on B47 diesel engines can develop internal coolant leaks, leading to coolant loss and, in rare cases, fire risk. BMW issued a recall for this issue -any car without documented recall work carries this risk.
Tiered Cost Table
Preventative (Repair)
Dealer
Specialist
£800–£1,500 (recall work free if applicable)
£500–£1,200
EGR cooler replacement, coolant flush
Catastrophic (Replacement)
Dealer
Specialist
£4,000–£6,000
£2,800–£5,000
Full reconditioned engine
Our Recommendation
On any F30 diesel, check the EGR cooler recall status immediately -a £500–£1,200 preventative repair is cheaper than the £2,800–£5,000 replacement that follows if ignored.
VariantEngine Code
Used (Supply)
Reconditioned (Supply)
Rebuilt (Supply)
Labour HoursScope note: All variants listed are F30 saloon only. F31 Touring, F34 Gran Turismo, and F35 long-wheelbase saloon share most of these engines but are covered on their own Generation Pages. The F30 was the first 3 Series to be offered with a plug-in hybrid (330e) from 2015, and the ActiveHybrid 3 was available from 2012 to 2015. The LCI facelift (2015) introduced the B38, B48, and B58 engines, replacing the N13, N20, and N55 in most applications.
Most Requested Engines (2025)
Most Requested Variants
Average Replacement Cost
£2,500–£8,000 supply-only
[BMW-QUOTE]
Most Common Failures
Live FeedBMW 3 Series 320d F30
N47
BirminghamCold-start timing chain rattle5
enquiries
Updated MonthlyBMW 3 Series 328i F30
N20
ManchesterWhining noise on revving4
enquiries
Updated MonthlyBMW 3 Series 340i F30
B58
LondonCoolant loss, water pump3
enquiries
Updated MonthlyMost Requested Engines (2025)
Most Requested Variants
Average Replacement Cost
£2,500–£8,000 supply-only
[BMW-QUOTE]
Most Common Failures
Most Requested Engines (2025)
Most Requested Variants
Average Replacement Cost
£2,500–£8,000 supply-only
[BMW-QUOTE]
Most Common Failures
Scope note: All variants listed are F30 saloon only. F31 Touring, F34 Gran Turismo, and F35 long-wheelbase saloon share most of these engines but are covered on their own Generation Pages. The F30 was the first 3 Series to be offered with a plug-in hybrid (330e) from 2015, and the ActiveHybrid 3 was available from 2012 to 2015. The LCI facelift (2015) introduced the B38, B48, and B58 engines, replacing the N13, N20, and N55 in most applications.
Most Requested Engines (2025)
Most Requested Variants
Average Replacement Cost
£2,500–£8,000 supply-only
[BMW-QUOTE]
Most Common Failures
Most Requested Engines (2025)
Most Requested Variants
Average Replacement Cost
£2,500–£8,000 supply-only
[BMW-QUOTE]
Most Common Failures
Most Requested Engines (2025)
Most Requested Variants
Average Replacement Cost
£2,500–£8,000 supply-only
[BMW-QUOTE]
Most Common Failures
Live FeedBMW 3 Series 320d F30
N47
BirminghamCold-start timing chain rattle5
enquiries
BMW 3 Series 328i F30
N20
ManchesterWhining noise on revving4
enquiries
BMW 3 Series 340i F30
B58
LondonCoolant loss, water pump3
enquiries
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