BMW B48 is the BEST 4 cylinder ever made...

[@gb2828]

Agreed, it is the best 4-clinder engine around, whereas it's "big brother," the B58 is just as solid in it's I6 configuration !!

[@joseluislopes3956]

Been loving it on my 330e. EV mode on the city is lovely - smooth, efficient - and get under 8l/100km on the highway cruising at 140kph The only complaint I have with the car was somehow needing new rear wheel bearings before 60k Kms somehow - original brakes, replaced bearings smh...

[@anjdog2003]

I have a 2021 M235 with the B48 engine. One of the best 4cyl out there.

[@lifeonautosofficial]

Sweet!

[@BIGLOVE4TRUTH]

I have a 2020 230i convertible with the B 48. Mine is the rare M package. No problems with the engine so far. I am concerned with all the plastic connectors and elbows, etc.

[@OREGONSAMURAI]

LifeOnAutos: I agree 👍🏼 the 4 cylinder B48 is a secret gem compared to BMW 6s and 8s. HOWEVER it's hard to find one that either wasn't neglected or abused or poorly taken care of due to poor or lack of maintenance. IMO that 4 Cylinder motor is the best N.A engine that BMW has. 👊🏽😎 Finding the right BMW used is like a needle in a hay stack. 💮

[@beartybollocks7782]

It’s not normally aspirated it’s a twin scroll turbo

[@kauttophs]

B48 and B58 seems to be quite robust, I don't know about the B38. I've had G30 530e -17 for over three years now and it only needed regular maintence, but I changed the 8HP oil and filter just in case and cleaned&filled the connector on high voltage battery housing (common problem, stupid engineering). Next year I'll sell the car before high voltage battery dies. In my contry the EV's and Hybrids doesn't have much extra tax on the price, but NA cars has a lot --> E.g. G20 330e xDrive 60k€ G20 M340i xDrive 96k€ G60 550e Xdrive 90k€.

[@bmwlane8834]

They also use them in the Toyota Supra.

[@lifeonautosofficial]

Exactly! If Toyota is using them, then you know it’s a good powertrain!

[@heckheckers3353]

I own a f30 330i. Gotta be aware of the plastic oil filter housing cracking(You can get an aftermarket metal one. I paid a shop $1800 to do so before it cracked. Later updated and reinforced in the g20). Also leaky water pump(Think bad gasket but just replaced entirely).

[@dust_gale3108]

That's not bad really. Ever 5-6 years approximately. But you can get an aluminium one that doesn't crack at all ... Idk

[@mottipaa]

i had the volvo v60 with the 2 liter t4 engine but the b48,58 engines are much nicer to drive and these are smoother than the volvo t4 engine

[@lifeonautosofficial]

Nice!!

[@Alienwarez567Epic]

You can tweak it to above 500 Bhp

[@Turboboob]

😂 still bmw junk

[@vytautaskryzius2556]

got my 2019 g30 530ixdrive with b46 engine with 52k miles, will see how will held up.

[@charleschen8146]

I got a 2018 G30 530i also with the b46 engine, it's about to hit 100k miles. Keep an eye on your coolant level when you hit 80k miles, I replaced the radiator and most of the coolant hoses due to coolant leaks.

[@vytautaskryzius2556]

@@charleschen8146 thanks, will do ! Have you tuned your car?

[@lifeonautosofficial]

@vytautaskryzius2556 not yet!! It’s getting tuned soon!

[@charleschen8146]

@@vytautaskryzius2556 I have not, the car is completely stock. I do have to say tho, I wish G30 have more aftermarket parts like the F platform, like I noticed a lot of these plastic hoses could be handled in a different way but BMW decided to go with plastic instead of metal. It’s like they’re designed to fail. But overall the car has been pretty reliable besides coolant leakages.

[@lifeonautosofficial]

@charleschen8146 yes I can agree as well. There are definitely things I like more about the G30 platform but miss from the previous F10!

[@justindaniel5959]

These cars need regular oil maintenance, shorter intervals if you want to keep the car long term. Zero issues on oil consumption and no water leaks .

[@lifeonautosofficial]

Agreed

[@GrandMasterPurp]

What do you mean by shorter intervals

[@justindaniel5959]

@@GrandMasterPurp currently BMW allows engines to run 20000km between oil changes which I think is too long. I think oil changes every 8000 to 10000 km should be done.

[@TheBigJ]

100% got an oil change for my G20 330i and the reset interval was 1 year or 14,000km. Couldn’t believe how dumb that interval was

[@GrandMasterPurp]

@@justindaniel5959thank you got any recommendations for oil

[@serialten]

which years are the best to get? looking for a B48/B46 bmw.

[@anjdog2003]

2020 on up

[@serialten]

@@anjdog2003 why is that? curious

[@ericsivilla4091]

I have a 2024 with a B48. My main concern with this engine carbon build up. Do you know if BMW has done anything to fix this issue ? Soneone told me the spray pattern on the injectors has been tweaked. The B58 has dual port infection wich prevents carbon build up behind the valves. Wish they woukd have done dual port on the B48.

[@lifeonautosofficial]

Hey that’s cool. Hope you’re enjoying the new G60!! I have not had any issues with it but I also drive my car like I stole it in hopes that it doesn’t have time to get carbon build up. Lol!

[@ericsivilla4091]

@lifeonautos8206 it really is a great engine. It's suppose to be very reliable . Have you thought about a catch can ? That should really help. I just can find one for my car 2024 g60 530i... if you decide to put a can. Would be nice to do a video on that.

[@lifeonautosofficial]

@ericsivilla4091 great idea! Yes I’ve thought about it but I’m trying to stick to simple power gain mods right now, lol and then will chip away at the other stuff!

[@lifeonautosofficial]

@ericsivilla4091 125k km of excellent reliability and zero check engine lights!

[@ericsivilla4091]

@lifeonautos8206 do you know what they have done to this engine to prevent the gdi carbon build up, or do you still have to do walnut blasting every 50k

[@lsjionredlinesupercharged2049]

Love the b48 in my 2020 x3 but yes my rear mounts need to be replaced 😂

[@surreallife777]

I'm looking to get 2008 to a 2012 BMW 3 Series. Did any of these cars come with this 4-cylinder engine if not which 4 cylinder engine did they come with and is it any good?

[@lifeonautosofficial]

I believe the 2008 328i came with a 3.0 inline 6 cylinder. I don’t know much about the older ones to be honest.

[@surreallife777]

​@@lifeonautosofficial okay thanks for getting back to me

[@JohnnyTheCache]

owned a B48 30i and it was ok. after 100k km it got several motor issues like every bmw i had.. B5x is better.

[@Smiley575]

very nice and informative video, as i´m thinking of buying a F30 330i after i blew the engine (N55B30) on my 2012 E92 335i and currently driving my 1996 E36 328i Coupé as daily. ...btw. nice G30 you have there it makes me miss my E39 i had some time ago, also a black one (Cosmosschwarz-metallic) but with tan leather interior.

[@lifeonautosofficial]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I love my car. Definitely plans for cold air intake, charge pipe, and tune with some nice burbles.

[@andresmc210]

How did you blow the N55?

[@Smiley575]

@@andresmc210 my mechanic said, i drove to much short distances, so the engine and also the oil could never really reach the temperature they need. the next thing is, you never know what the preowner did to their car, i bought my E92 used, when it was 7 years old and my mechanic also mentioned that it always felt like the engine was running odd. a thing that is also odd is, that i drove the same route to work for over 10 years with a 1996 BMW E36 328i and never had such issues. i am very curious what excactly happened... and now finally the engine get´s swapped, it took much time to find a decent used engine, since i did not want to buy a new one from BMW. edit: my E92 made trouble from the very beginning, after buying it and on the way home the enige light came on and it ran only in limp mode... back home and after a visit at my mechanic´s place he figured out the injectors where severly damaged and that i got scammed... i sued (and i won, btw.) the car dealer and kept the E92 afterwards. but still after 4 years the trouble started to get even worse...

[@Smiley575]

@@lifeonautosofficial sonds nice, sorry for the late response... i think i´m going to sell my E92, after the engine is swapped and get my hands on a F30 or G30 with a B48 inside.

[@andresmc210]

@@Smiley575 Thanks for the explanation, sorry about that. What was the mileage when it blew?

[@farran5692]

Hi, how is the reliability in a b48 in transversal position? Some of the peripheral devices changes its positioning and the gearbox is different. I.e x1 and x2 have this engine position. Thank you!

[@lifeonautosofficial]

I haven’t heard anyone complain about a B48 before or having problems, besides maybe some carbon buildup. I have personally never experienced that tho! I have a friend with the X2 which is a different variant B48 than the 530i and it’s been trouble free.

[@farran5692]

@@lifeonautosofficial Great!

[@Alpha-ms8nl]

so, is the fuel conumption around the same for a b58 engine? planning to get a 530i or a 540i but gass in Europe is very expensive just like everything else

[@lifeonautosofficial]

I know that if you are looking for top fuel efficiency then the 530i B46/48 is your best bet but if you’re looking for similar fuel economy with more power then the 540i is your best bet. I’m happy with my 530. Unless you plan on tuning your 530i of course which can be easily done (can make it quicker than a stock 540i) with some down pipe, tuning, exhaust, etc..

[@Alpha-ms8nl]

Yes I am struggeling bro. Deff gonna mod the g30 but idk, if the 540i has little less fuel economy​ its no brainer for me. But if the 540i is much more thirsty I get the 530i @@lifeonautosofficial

[@themotorworld2024]

I have problems with my engine, tremors and noises at 130,000 km, vanos stuck error! do you have any idea how to solve it? The actuators are good! What needs to be replaced? Vanos or solenoid?

[@lifeonautosofficial]

That’s not good!! I hear that the VANOS on these cars may go bad in rare cases.

[@Eminetics]

Go to a dealer

[@dust_gale3108]

Go to the reputable bimmer shop .

[@themotorworld2024]

@@lifeonautosofficial the solenoid valve that screws into the vanos had a broken screen

[@themotorworld2024]

@@Eminetics the solenoid valve that screws into the vanos had a broken screen

[@adriangomez8506]

My n20 is crap? 148mil km, f30 2013, zero issues…Mi intention is get forever, i’m 66 yo…No spend money by another car…Its possible?

[@settounite]

N20 is not crap. First iterations had problems with timing chain but older models 2015 and up it got solved. N20 is good but B48 is more reliable and has better internals and less prone to problems. Especially if you want to tune it, stage 2 or higher you can run it no Problem.

[@lifeonautosofficial]

The N20 is great! I’ve heard of a few that had issues with timing chain but it was resolved and the N20 has since been bulletproof.

[@dust_gale3108]

N20 is a bit jiggly and vibrates more but doesn't really matter.

[@Parker989]

N20 after 2015 is very reliable

[@mattwill63]

lol honda k24 disagrees.

[@bmwlane8834]

Lol...ok. It just be a great engine because Toyota puts it in their Supra.

[@hansmaulwurf3831]

As well as 2JZ disagrees about S58. But time goes on

[@stevhandingwall2028]

Mitsubishi evo 4g63

[@Love-nu9mm]

Diesel clattat timing guide issue poor reliability

[@TyeWilliams-pr8zj]

SO WHAT ABOUT THE OLDER BMW 4CLD WITH BAD TIMING CHAIN GUIDES LIKE BMWS BUT THERE TURBO WERE JUNK N 62 V BAD VALVE OIL SEALS,2007 550I MY DAUGHTER S SMOKING LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN FOR WHAT U PAY BMW CAN DO BETTER BUYERS BEWARE SAVE YOUR MONEY

[@heckheckers3353]

LMAO N63 owners.

[@mikimiki195]

I have 550i it’s one of the best cars I ever owned and trust me when I say one of the best cars I owned because I am car guy I have owned a lot of cool cars. I did valve seal job coolant hoses vacuum hoses. Now car is performing better than 95% of cars that you can go and buy new. 👍🏻

[@Eminetics]

Dont let this confuse you with it being a reliable car. Yes the engine is reliable but everything it is connected to is still just as unreliable as every previous year model.

[@dust_gale3108]

Uh.... ZF automatic and Getrag manual transmission are PROVEN to be reliable. Period. Have you ever heard about major recalls or failures? Drivetrain on BMWs right now is as best as it gets tbh. Especially considering that it is a turbo engine. Electronic is also fine. It doesn't have a trash soybean wires like GM or ford. Bmw has always been above average in terms of reliability even when 4 cyl (N26) engines had problems. And V8 and V10 engines never was their main product. And wasn't supposed to be reliable

[@Eminetics]

@@dust_gale3108 suspension issues at 70-100k ( full rebuild age ) will be about 2-3k oil pumps issues very common 1k fuel pump( high and low pressure guaranteed to fail in lifetime ) failures 1.5k same old oil filter housing issues ( happens in all models without fail ) 3k same motor mount issues ( 100% chance due to the design ) 1.5k same head gasket issues… again near 100% chance to happen due to the soft gasket and heat cycling 3k It’s all public information and very well documented. Great engine but the rest of the car is still German engineering unfortunately :( but great car for the most part just have around 10k to do some of the maintenance items listed above in the vehicles lifetime.

[@MyDailyPerspective]

Go document all of that on a G20/B46 (using correct engine code here) platform please. I'm interested to see it and avoid buying one. Sounds horrible.

[@Eminetics]

@@MyDailyPerspective All of this is public information you can find it all in the BMW forums it’s not rocket science.

[@stoveguy2133]

Car ninja says all newer plastic motor bmws are CRAP