Was The N20 A Mistake? BMW Tear-Down: Opening up the 328i Engine and Cooling System

► Creating something worthy of BMW's motorsports heritage from one of their more standard offerings was always going to take a few parts. Just how many, though? We're about to find out.
Digging into the F30 328i for the first time is going to reveal everything it has and needs. Thousands of miles of ownership have taken its toll on the car, and left more than a few things to address immediately. With little time to waste, Gareth tears right into the project to prep it for its makeover.
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0:00 Sneak Peak of the Finished Project
0:52 Underbody and Engine First Impressions
3:06 Rear Suspension and Driveline Inspection
4:43 OBD2 Diagnostic and Service History
7:04 Tearing Down the F30
10:40 Removing the Drive Shaft and Mating to the new Diff
13:30 Assessing the front Bumper and Ducting
14:50 Thoughts on the N20 Engine
15:58 Tearing into the N20 Cooling System
17:38 Infamous Mickey Mouse Flange
19:40 Valvecover and High Pressure Fuel System Removal
20:47 Throttle Body Discussion
21:06 Timing Chain Slack?
22:00 N20 Timing Chain Replacement
26:06 Updates to the N20 Timing Chain Components and Comparison
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[@DannysGarage]

Man, if you pull one of those mickey mouse hoses off without it breaking apart, you may as well go buy a lottery ticket. I've pulled like 50 of those in various F30's, E90's, F10's, etc and not a single one was even remotely intact, and that's including cars with 70k miles on them. The plastic cooling system components really do not survive out here in Arizona.

[@mr_DIY]

Plastic crap kills cars around the world 😢

[@Scotford_Maconochie]

About to replace this mickey mouse hose (upgrading to an aluminum one) flange on a 115k mi N55 that also need a new valve cover and gasket.

[@dylangomez562]

I'm in SoCal and surprisingly did mine 2 weeks ago on a 95k mile N26 and I had to cut my hose because I couldn't get that flange off. Was surprised it made it that long.

[@heistkev]

I own an F30 335i, but I'm still going to watch this, because Gareth working on BMWs is highly entertaining!!

[@fcpeuro-media]

Gareth and BMW is a recipe for good watchin haha

[@gottgaame]

@@fcpeuro-mediawhen are you guys going to upload part 2 ?

[@johnny042395]

Needed an excuse not to do away with my little 175k mile 428i. Cars had it's issues, timing chain, thermostat and compressor being the heavy hitters. But routine maintenance on the rest of the smaller preventative measures like arms, bushings and gaskets have kept the car going fighting the Texas heat. Appreciate you guys giving the n20 some love. The M54 in my 330ci has proven itself and looking to see that the L5 in the junker V70 T5 I just picked up can do

[@fcpeuro-media]

Thats got some serious miles! From what it sounds like youve got a nice Euro fleet building up, you can have 1 wild card in the mix!

[@NS416]

I’ve owned N20’s, B48’s & B58’s. The N20 is by far the least reliable, but I wouldn’t say they are terrible. If it weren’t for the timingchain failing, which is a big failure, this engine would be solid. I’ve only had my thermostat get stuck open and had to be replaced. Due to gearing, a lot of these 28i’s cars feel quicker in the lower end compared to the 30i’s cars with the B48. Outside of that, B48’s are a much better engine and I am glad to see BMW was able to improve the N20 into what it is now. The N20 is definitely an interesting engine, seeing that’s BMW’s modern day turbo 4.

[@fcpeuro-media]

B48 is for sure a sweet spot, but with so many N20s out on the road we might as well learn to love them for the long run!

[@anthonyt7642]

does the tstat being stuck open give you a code? particularly (U0079 Control Module Comm Bus G off). i feel like mine may be stuck open but that's the only code i have. everything else is fine and car doesn't have any other issues.

[@NS416]

@@anthonyt7642 Man, it’s been over 6 years since I got that code, but it did for sure give one. Give the car a drive and see if the temps stays lower than it should. Means it’s stuck open.

[@AH-yg2dj]

@@anthonyt7642i had code 1D2404, upon further research i found it signifies the thermostat is broken.

[@Cybrons]

Going to have to take some notes and add stuff stuff you guys have to my 328i.

[@fcpeuro-media]

You know we've got you when the time comes!

[@bigfwopl4873]

Any trends with steering rack noises you guys have noticed? mine makes a racket going over bumps and the new bushing BMW sells only works when tighening down way to much

[@potatopc1810]

Would you guys recommend the aftermarket metal valve cover for the n20 would that make any difference in terms of longevity and oil leak issues?

[@charlesberry4958]

So, my car dies on the side of the road, I need to crawl under it, remove the under shields, spin the 5mm nut to get into neutral for a flatbed?

[@fcpeuro-media]

technically yes 🙃

[@losertown2785]

timing chains can feel lose at times due to the tensioner not having oil pressure to apply pressure and due to where the cams and crank are at but id say its definently best to do it while your there then take a gamble on a 100k+ mile set of original chains.

[@fcpeuro-media]

100% a "while youre in there"

[@zyzz1992]

Just a question for those that might have experience on the high compression N20. I'm fitting in forged 11:1 piston with stock rods on it. I have a hybrid turbo capable of pushing 24 psi of boost. I'm just wondering is it okay to push 24 psi since I have forged piston now ?

[@quiksr20]

Awesome video, more so because I own the same car... Would you guys say that the timing chain is the only major reliability thing to worry about when it comes to the N20?

[@fcpeuro-media]

Its for sure "THE BIG ONE" other than that most of the other things we mentioned are pretty typical of most modern BMWs.

[@quiksr20]

@@fcpeuro-media awesome thx, I’ve owned a bunch so that’s good to hear… got the other stuff covered 115k trouble free miles thus far

[@andru12qw]

Gareth, arms are looking strong bud.

[@fcpeuro-media]

He is an all around athlete these days

[@blkpnts]

Fav part of this vid is telling me I can lose my damper on my rear differential!

[@georgeanddaddecker7563]

Why does BMW not just key way all Tom mg gears and crank timing items? It would be so easy.

[@fcpeuro-media]

If only...

[@clifff6555]

Will you sell the Baffle in the future? I didn't see it in the list of parts used.

[@fcpeuro-media]

For sale soon! We will drop a video about it once its live

[@Tayboxer879]

What will you guys do with the AWE exhaust, I really need it! 😁

[@fcpeuro-media]

What didddd we do with that......

[@Tayboxer879]

@@fcpeuro-media Uh oh 😰

[@christopherc7075]

Hey I saw this car irl today! :O

[@fcpeuro-media]

Did it live up to the video?

[@christopherc7075]

@@fcpeuro-media Yeah it was really cool to see, even before knowing it was part of this series 👍

[@LyfeOfJr]

WHEN IS PART 2 WE NEED IT NOWWWW

[@fcpeuro-media]

Hope you found the rest 🙂

[@masinicustefan]

What do you think bout the Europe N20B20B, 320i, with the higher compression rate.?

[@avgfinnishdude]

more efficient; cant handle as much boost

[@masinicustefan]

@@avgfinnishdude But how about in terms of tuning?

[@avgfinnishdude]

@@masinicustefan i own 320i f30 stage 1.. its quick but i wouldnt go past 300hp with it

[@masinicustefan]

@@avgfinnishdude I’m thinking of doing mine stage 1, 260 hp and 420 NM of torque. I’ve always wondered if the 11:1 compression n20 can handle this power in time. Is the difference noticeable from 184 hp, yours?

[@avgfinnishdude]

@@masinicustefan I have a video against 328i and also some slight acceleration videos. The difference is absolutely huge as the stock car boosts only 8psi and stage 1 20psi so it has way more torque and hp at all rpm ranges My car did 6.9 sec 0-100kmh stock and now 4.8sec Im xdrive though

[@davidrubin2612]

can I buy that Awe from you please

[@Mzavoo]

Just buy it from awe

[@user-li5lv7ep9k]

All that work to not drop the engine 😂.

[@justinyj2264]

that timing chain was loose... real loose...

[@sskkkkiiii]

it’s an n20 what u expect lol

[@fcpeuro-media]

@@sskkkkiiii par for the course ha