BMW 528i SULEV (F10) engine: which one, problems and replacement

The BMW 528i SULEV in the sixth 5 Series generation (F10, built 2010–2017) was built with one engine, the N26B20: a 2.0 L petrol inline-4 with 245 hp.

Below you will find how to identify the engine in your 528i SULEV, the faults to look for, current prices for a replacement and the swap options that make sense.

• Generation: sixth 5 Series, 2010–2017
• Body styles: F10 (saloon)
• Engines: N26B20
• Output: 245 hp
• Replacement engines in stock: 5 from 1.375,00 €

Which engine is in your 528i SULEV?

N26B20 in the 528i SULEV

The N26B20 was used in the F10 528i SULEV, built 2012–2016. It is a 2.0 L turbocharged petrol inline-4 with 245 hp and 350 Nm.

Reading the code: N marks an N-series code, the generation of BMW engines introduced from 2001; 26 is the family number; B stands for petrol (from the German Benzin); 20 is the capacity in decilitres, so 2.0 litres.

528i SULEV engines by model year

The 528i SULEV kept the same engine for the whole F10 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 528i SULEV

A replacement engine does not have to come from another 528i SULEV. 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.

N26B20: BMW F30 328i SULEV.

How to confirm your engine code

The 528i SULEV only used the N26B20, 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 528i SULEV engine problems

The N26B20 in the 528i SULEV shares the known weak points of the N20 and N26 family. Full N20 and N26 guide.

Timing chain guide. Plastic guides in early N20 engines can break, leading to chain slap and engine damage. Updated parts fixed the issue.

Oil pump drive chain. The oil pump drive also uses a chain and guide that wear.

Electric water pump. The electric pump fails without warning.

Oil filter housing and valve cover gaskets. Both leak with age.

Carbon build-up. Direct injection causes carbon on intake valves.

Symptoms to watch for on the 528i SULEV

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 528i SULEV engine

• Oil: 0W-30 or 5W-30 BMW Longlife-01, about 5.25 litres.
• Service interval: Oil every 10,000 to 15,000 km.
• Timing drive: Timing chain at the rear (gearbox end).
• Workshop notes: Replacing the chain on an N20 normally needs the engine out, so a used unit is the time to do it.

Buying a used engine for the 528i SULEV: checklist

1. Compression or leak-down figures. Even compression across all cylinders tells you more than mileage. Ask for the figures, not just a pass or fail, and compare the highest and lowest readings: a spread above 10 to 15 percent deserves a question.
2. Ask how the donor car was damaged. Most good used engines come from cars with body damage. A front-end impact can crack sensors, the timing cover or the sump; a rear or side impact usually leaves the engine untouched. The yard records the damage on each unit.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Photographs from every side. Good suppliers photograph the actual engine you will receive. Look for the block stamp, the sump, the timing cover and any broken brackets or connectors in the pictures.
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.
13. Electric water pump. This engine uses an electric water pump. It fails without warning and needs a diagnostic bleeding routine when it is replaced or the system is refilled.

BMW 528i SULEV replacement engine cost

Our 528i SULEV engine stock runs to 5 units, priced from 1.375,00 € to 3.221,00 € with a median of 1.995,00 €.

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.

1 of these come from F10 donor cars, priced from 1.995,00 €. 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 528i SULEV

Here is a selection of 528i SULEV engines currently on our shelves, photographed in the yard. Click any of them for the full photographs, mileage and specification.

BMW F32 428i N26B20 Engine 20151.375,00 €BMW F30 328i SULEV N26B20 Engine, Premium Grade3.221,00 €BMW F10 528i SULEV N26B20 Complete Engine1.995,00 €

BMW F32 428i N26B20 Engine 2015 — 1.375,00 €, reduced from 2.000,00 €. It comes from a 2015 donor car, and 23 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW F30 328i SULEV N26B20 Engine, Premium Grade — 3.221,00 €, reduced from 3.760,00 €. It comes from a recorded donor car, and 9 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW F10 528i SULEV N26B20 Complete Engine — 1.995,00 €, reduced from 2.500,00 €. It comes from a recorded donor car, and 25 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

Will it fit my 528i SULEV?

Engine swaps and upgrades for the 528i SULEV

These engines were fitted to other versions of the F10 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 N57D30 in my 528i SULEV?

It is a full conversion: the N57D30 runs on diesel and the N26B20 on petrol, so the fuel system, wiring, engine control unit, instrument coding and usually the gearbox change too. The gain is 13 hp and 210 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Can I fit the N57D30B in my 528i SULEV?

It is a full conversion: the N57D30B runs on diesel and the N26B20 on petrol, so the fuel system, wiring, engine control unit, instrument coding and usually the gearbox change too. The gain is 13 hp and 210 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Can I fit the N53B30 in my 528i SULEV?

It is a conversion rather than a replacement: the N53B30 is an inline-6 and your N26B20 an inline-4, so mounts, sump, cooling, exhaust, wiring and the engine control unit all change. The gain is 27 hp and 0 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Fitting a replacement engine in the 528i SULEV

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.

528i SULEV engine questions

How much does a used BMW N26B20 engine cost?

A used BMW N26B20 engine in our yard usually costs between 2.050 € and 3.350 €. The exact price depends on the year, the mileage and the parts that come with the engine.

Our units show recorded mileage from about 22,000 km up to around 200,000 km. Lower mileage and more ancillaries mean a higher price. Each listing shows its own price, and the price you see is the price you pay. Prices include VAT for private buyers.

Shipping is a flat 249 € per order. It is added once at checkout and printed on the invoice, so there is no extra fee later. If you order a gearbox or a second engine on the same order, the fee is still charged once.

Inside the EU there is no import duty. For the UK and other non-EU countries, import duty and local VAT are paid by the receiver, and we supply a commercial invoice.

See all N26 Engines · Search N26B20 in the shop

What is the BMW N26B20 engine?

The BMW N26B20 is a 2.0 liter (1,997 cc) petrol engine from the N26 family. It has an inline 4, DOHC, 16 valve layout with a twin-scroll turbocharger, and makes 180 kW (245 HP) with 350 Nm of torque. BMW built it from 2012 to 2016 and it meets the Euro 6 emission standard.

You find the N26B20 in the BMW F30 328i SULEV, BMW F10 528i SULEV and BMW F22 228i. What we list: BMW N26 SULEV 2.0 turbo petrol engines, the low-emission N20 variant.

At Autowerke Engines every N26B20 is a real used engine from our yard in Hamburg. The photos on each listing show the actual engine, not a stock picture. The yard checks the code, records what is bolted on, and seals the openings before the engine is offered. Each listing shows the year, the mileage and the price, so you can compare units side by side.

Not sure? Send us your VIN and your gearbox code. We match the engine family, the year window and the parts on the engine before anything is reserved, and the check is free.

See all N26 Engines · Search N26B20 in the shop

Delivery, warranty and payment

Every 528i SULEV 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.

Door-to-door delivery is included to the address you give at checkout. Typical delivery takes three to five working days within Germany and neighbouring countries and five to ten working days to the rest of Europe and the UK.

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 F10 engines · N20 and N26 engine guide · Send us your VIN