BMW 330i (F30) engine: which one, problems and replacement

The BMW 330i in the sixth 3 Series generation (F30, built 2011–2019) was built with one engine, the B48B20: a 2.0 L petrol inline-4 with 258 hp.

This guide tells you which engine your 330i has, what goes wrong with it, what a replacement costs from our stock and what else to plan for when you fit one.

• Generation: sixth 3 Series, 2011–2019
• Body styles: F30 (saloon)
• Engines: B48B20
• Output: 258 hp
• Replacement engines in stock: 402 from 2.038,00 €

Which engine is in your 330i?

B48B20 in the 330i

The B48B20 was used in the F30 330i, built 2014–2026. It is a 2.0 L turbocharged petrol inline-4 with 258 hp and 400 Nm.

Reading the code: B marks a B-series code, BMW's modular engine family introduced from 2013 with 500 cc per cylinder; 48 is the family number; B stands for petrol, longitudinal installation for rear-drive and xDrive cars; 20 is the capacity in decilitres, so 2.0 litres.

330i engines by model year

The 330i kept the same engine for the whole F30 run, which makes ordering simple: any unit with the same code fits, subject to the gearbox, drive type and sump.

Other cars with the same engine as the 330i

A replacement engine does not have to come from another 330i. These models left the factory with the same engine code, so a unit from any of them is a candidate donor once the sump, mounts and ancillaries are matched to your car.

B48B20: BMW G20 330i, BMW G30 530i, BMW G01 X3 20i, BMW G05 X5 40i, Supra 2.0.

How to confirm your engine code

The 330i only used the B48B20, but the exact version can still change with the build date, gearbox and market. Send us the last seven characters of the VIN and we read the engine code from BMW's records, or look for the code stamped on the block. How to find your BMW engine code.

Known 330i engine problems

The B48B20 in the 330i shares the known weak points of the B48 and B46 family. Full B48 and B46 guide.

Coolant leaks. Thermostat housings and coolant pipes leak.

Oil filter housing gasket. Leaks at higher mileage.

PCV and valve cover. Valve cover seals and PCV parts fail.

Water pump. The water pump can leak.

Symptoms to watch for on the 330i

Rattle for a few seconds after a cold start. The classic sign of a weak timing chain tensioner or stretched chain. It must be checked quickly: a chain that jumps a tooth can bend valves.

Rattle or whine from the gearbox end. On engines with the timing chain at the rear, a rattle or whine from the back of the engine is the warning sign of chain stretch or guide wear.

Whistle, loss of boost or limp mode. A split charge pipe, a sticking wastegate or worn turbo bearings. Check the pipes first, then the turbo shaft for play.

Poor low-down torque and uneven idle. VANOS seals or solenoids. The engine may run well at high revs but feel flat and lumpy at low speed.

Limp mode with a Valvetronic fault. The Valvetronic motor, its eccentric shaft sensor or the wiring. The engine runs on a reduced throttle until it is repaired.

Long cranking before the engine starts. On direct-injection engines, a weak high-pressure fuel pump or leaking injector lets pressure drop when the engine is off.

Looking after the 330i engine

• Oil: 0W-20 or 0W-30 BMW Longlife-17 FE+ or 01, about 5.25 litres.
• Service interval: Oil every 15,000 km or yearly.
• Timing drive: Timing chain at the rear (gearbox end).
• Workshop notes: Check front-drive (B48A) or rear-drive (B48B) before ordering.

Buying a used engine for the 330i: checklist

1. List of what is fitted. Engines are sold with different ancillaries: some have the turbo, injectors, manifolds, alternator and starter, others are long blocks. Agree the list in writing so you know which parts must come from your old engine.
2. Sump, oil pickup and drive variants. Rear-drive, xDrive and front-drive cars can use different sumps, oil pickups and engine mounts even with the same engine code. Check that the sump matches your subframe and front axle.
3. Why your old engine failed. Before fitting a replacement, find out why the original failed. An overheating radiator, a blocked intercooler or a failed turbo can destroy a second engine if they are not fixed.
4. Look at the oil and coolant. Clean oil without metal particles and coolant without oil are good signs. Milky oil, oily coolant or a burnt smell mean the engine needs further checks before it is fitted.
5. Gearbox and flywheel match. Manual and automatic engines differ at the flywheel or flexplate, and sometimes at the crankshaft spigot. Make sure the engine you buy matches your gearbox or that you transfer the right parts.
6. Turbocharger shaft play and oil. Rotate the compressor wheel by hand. A small amount of side play is normal; in-and-out play or wheel contact with the housing is not. Oil pooled in the intake or intercooler pipes points to worn seals.
7. Timing chain noise. Listen for a rattle at the front of the engine for the first seconds after a cold start. On an engine that cannot be run, look at the chain guides through the oil filler or with the valve cover off.
8. Gearbox-end timing chain. On this engine the timing chain sits at the gearbox end, so replacing it normally means removing the engine. If the chain has not been replaced, the time to do it is before the engine goes into your car.
9. VANOS operation. Rough idle, a rattle from the front of the head and a loss of torque at low revs point to VANOS seals or solenoids. These are serviceable parts and are easier to renew with the engine out.
10. Double VANOS units and solenoids. Ask for the adaptation values or fault history if the engine was running. Solenoids are inexpensive and are often replaced as a matter of course on a used engine.
11. Valvetronic motor and eccentric shaft sensor. The Valvetronic motor and its sensor cause limp-mode faults when they fail. Inspect the connector and the seal around the motor for oil.
12. Injectors and high-pressure fuel pump. Direct-injection engines rely on high-pressure pumps and precise injectors. Ask whether the injectors are original or updated and whether there were fuel pressure faults.

BMW 330i replacement engine cost

Across 402 330i engine units in our stock today, prices start at 2.038,00 € and reach 4.513,00 €. The median — the price in the middle of the range — is 3.465,00 €.

Prices depend on the exact version, the donor's mileage, how complete the engine is and the demand for that code. Higher-output versions, low mileage and dressed engines with turbo, injectors and ancillaries cost more; long blocks and higher mileage cost less.

330i engine prices by model year

Engines from 2015–2019 have a median of 3.482,00 €, while units from 2020–2024 sit at 3.443,00 €. Newer engines usually cost more because they come from younger donor cars with lower mileage and later updates.

330i engine prices by mileage

Mileage matters less than history on a well-maintained BMW engine, but it is a useful guide. A low-mileage unit from a younger car gives you more life for a modest premium.

79 of these come from F30 donor cars, priced from 2.666,00 € to 4.178,00 €. An engine from the same body is the most direct swap because the sump, mounts and ancillaries already match.

On top of the engine, budget for the workshop's labour and the parts that are best replaced while the engine is out: engine mounts, the rear main seal, cooling parts, a clutch or converter seal, fluids and filters.

Replacement engines in stock for the 330i

These 330i units are in our Hamburg yard right now. Each listing shows real photographs of the engine you receive, its mileage and what is fitted.

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2024, 103,500 km3.218,00 €BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2019, 43,100 km2.762,00 €BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2024, 93,300 km3.461,00 €BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2018, 84,100 km3.949,00 €BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2016, 149,200 km2.796,00 €BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2022, 144,100 km3.305,00 €BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2020, 39,400 km3.427,00 €BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2015, 32,400 km4.128,00 €BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2024, 126,500 km3.492,00 €BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2019, 182,400 km2.897,00 €BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2020, 19,300 km3.645,00 €BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2016, 199,600 km2.947,00 €

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2024, 103,500 km — 3.218,00 €, reduced from 4.500,00 €. It comes from a 2024 donor car with 103,500 km, and 10 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2019, 43,100 km — 2.762,00 €, reduced from 3.550,00 €. It comes from a 2019 donor car with 43,100 km, and 24 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2024, 93,300 km — 3.461,00 €, reduced from 4.400,00 €. It comes from a 2024 donor car with 93,300 km, and 7 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2018, 84,100 km — 3.949,00 €, reduced from 5.000,00 €. It comes from a 2018 donor car with 84,100 km, and 9 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2016, 149,200 km — 2.796,00 €, reduced from 3.600,00 €. It comes from a 2016 donor car with 149,200 km, and 6 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2022, 144,100 km — 3.305,00 €, reduced from 4.550,00 €. It comes from a 2022 donor car with 144,100 km, and 14 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2020, 39,400 km — 3.427,00 €, reduced from 4.700,00 €. It comes from a 2020 donor car with 39,400 km, and 24 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2015, 32,400 km — 4.128,00 €, reduced from 4.950,00 €. It comes from a 2015 donor car with 32,400 km, and 20 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2024, 126,500 km — 3.492,00 €, reduced from 4.800,00 €. It comes from a 2024 donor car with 126,500 km, and 15 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2019, 182,400 km — 2.897,00 €, reduced from 4.150,00 €. It comes from a 2019 donor car with 182,400 km, and 5 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2020, 19,300 km — 3.645,00 €, reduced from 4.300,00 €. It comes from a 2020 donor car with 19,300 km, and 22 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F30 330i B48B20 Engine 2016, 199,600 km — 2.947,00 €, reduced from 3.900,00 €. It comes from a 2016 donor car with 199,600 km, and 26 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

Will it fit my 330i?

Engine swaps and upgrades for the 330i

These engines were fitted to other versions of the F30 at the factory, which makes them the most practical upgrades: the body was designed around them and many parts are shared.

Can I fit the N55B30 in my 330i?

It is a conversion rather than a replacement: the N55B30 is an inline-6 and your B48B20 an inline-4, so mounts, sump, cooling, exhaust, wiring and the engine control unit all change. The gain is 48 hp and 0 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Can I fit the N55B30T0 in my 330i?

It is a conversion rather than a replacement: the N55B30T0 is an inline-6 and your B48B20 an inline-4, so mounts, sump, cooling, exhaust, wiring and the engine control unit all change. The gain is 48 hp and 0 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Can I fit the N55B30O0 in my 330i?

It is a conversion rather than a replacement: the N55B30O0 is an inline-6 and your B48B20 an inline-4, so mounts, sump, cooling, exhaust, wiring and the engine control unit all change. The gain is 68 hp and 50 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Fitting a replacement engine in the 330i

1. Inspect or replace the timing chain parts. Look at the guides and tensioner. On high-mileage engines, replacing them now costs far less than doing it later.
2. Replace the rear timing chain if in doubt. On engines with the chain at the gearbox end, chain work needs the engine out. If the history is unknown, replace the chain, guides and tensioner before fitting.
3. Prepare the turbo. Fit new oil feed and return seals, clean the intercooler and pipes of any oil or debris from the old engine, and prime the turbo with oil before starting.
4. Reset VANOS adaptations. Clear the VANOS adaptations so the ECU learns the camshaft positions of the new engine.
5. Teach the Valvetronic limit stops. Run the Valvetronic learning routine so the ECU knows the eccentric shaft limits.
6. Fill with the right oil and prime it. Fill with new oil of the correct specification and a new filter. Crank with the fuel and ignition disabled until oil pressure builds.
7. Coding and adaptations. On modern BMWs, the engine ECU must be matched to the car's immobiliser (CAS, FEM or BDC). Reset adaptations, register the battery and clear faults with diagnostic software.
8. First start and leak check. Start the engine, let it idle and watch oil pressure, temperature and fault codes. Check for leaks and bleed the cooling system.
9. First 1,000 km. Drive gently for the first few hundred kilometres, vary the engine speed and avoid full load. Change the oil and filter after about 1,000 km to remove any assembly debris.

The full fitting and first-start procedure.

Delivery, warranty and payment

Every 330i engine we sell is drained, sealed at each opening, strapped to a heat-treated pallet and shrink-wrapped before it leaves Hamburg. You receive photographs of the packed engine and a tracking number.

Delivery is door to door and included in the price. Most European addresses receive the engine within five to ten working days; Germany and its neighbours are usually faster.

Every engine carries a 12-month warranty on eligible internal failure when a qualified workshop fits it with new fluids and filters. Payment is by card, bank transfer or crypto; your invoice is emailed as soon as you order.

All F30 engines · B48 and B46 engine guide · BMW 330i engines for sale · Send us your VIN