2015 N20 vs. 2016 B48

okayhenry · 12-08-2023, 04:26 AM

Hi Everyone，

Can I please have some advice picking between a 2015 n20 220i and a 2016 b48 220i?
The 2015 has 63,000kms and $24,000AUD.
The 2016 has 55,000kms and $26,000AUD.
Both M sports packages and fully stock.

Is it worth the extra $2000 for the B48? 24k is already pushing my budget

I plan to go the BM3 route for safe power gains - I want this car to last atleast another 5 years driving 15,000kms yearly.

Thanks!

Dom147 · 12-08-2023, 07:24 AM

B48 will definitely be your best choice considering your preferences. I believe the n20 from 2015 will still suffer from timing chain guide issues.

freakystyly · 12-08-2023, 07:48 AM

The B48 will be more reliable as an engine if that matters to you. It would be $2k well spent.

mecheng77 · 12-09-2023, 05:44 PM

N20 is garbage, stay far away. Not just timing chain guides, also turbos

Stick with n55,b48,b58

M3SQRD · 12-10-2023, 01:41 PM

Having owned both a n20 and b48, I’d definitely go with the b48. I’d definitely stay away from the n20 timing chain guides.

12-08-2023, 04:26 AM	#1
okayhenry Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: I want a Bimmer Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	2015 N20 vs. 2016 B48 Hi Everyone， Can I please have some advice picking between a 2015 n20 220i and a 2016 b48 220i? The 2015 has 63,000kms and $24,000AUD. The 2016 has 55,000kms and $26,000AUD. Both M sports packages and fully stock. Is it worth the extra $2000 for the B48? 24k is already pushing my budget I plan to go the BM3 route for safe power gains - I want this car to last atleast another 5 years driving 15,000kms yearly. Thanks! Last edited by okayhenry; 12-08-2023 at 05:37 AM..
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12-08-2023, 07:24 AM	#2
Dom147 Second Lieutenant 91 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW 228i, 2017 BMW M240i Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Northern Virginia iTrader: (1) Garage List 2017 BMW M240i [0.00]	B48 will definitely be your best choice considering your preferences. I believe the n20 from 2015 will still suffer from timing chain guide issues.
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12-08-2023, 07:48 AM	#3
freakystyly Lieutenant Colonel 2996 Rep 1,798 Posts Drives: F22 B58 6MT Join Date: May 2016 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	The B48 will be more reliable as an engine if that matters to you. It would be $2k well spent.
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12-09-2023, 05:44 PM	#4
mecheng77 Colonel 1006 Rep 2,243 Posts Drives: 2007 328i / 2014 M235i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Ontario Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [0.00]	N20 is garbage, stay far away. Not just timing chain guides, also turbos Stick with n55,b48,b58
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12-10-2023, 01:41 PM	#5
M3SQRD Major General 2161 Rep 5,548 Posts Drives: E92 M3,G20 330ix,F22 240iX,F82 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (11)	Having owned both a n20 and b48, I’d definitely go with the b48. I’d definitely stay away from the n20 timing chain guides.
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