BMW N20 & N26 2.0T Engine
The N20 is BMW’s 2.0-litre turbo four — 328i, 428i, 228i, X1, X3, Z4 and more. It is a strong, efficient engine that developed one serious reputation problem, and it has a twin called the N26 that most buyers have never heard of until they order the wrong one.
Our N20 and N26 units start at $2,946, matched to drive layout and emissions spec.
Browse used BMW engines Text your VINThe timing chain guide failure
This is the one that ends N20 engines.
Thousands of early production N20s were built with faulty internal plastic timing chain guides. As the guide material degrades, the chain is no longer held properly. It can then skip teeth on the upper camshaft sprocket, and on an engine with this little valve-to-piston clearance, that means catastrophic damage.
Why this matters so much on a used engine: the guides are internal. You cannot see them from outside, and an engine can look and sound fine right up until it does not. The failure became serious enough that a class action was filed in 2017; in 2019 a federal judge partly granted and partly denied BMW’s motion to dismiss it.
What to ask before you buy
- Has the timing chain and guides been done? On an early N20 this is the first and most important question. A documented chain service transforms the risk profile.
- Later production units are the safer buy. BMW addressed the guide material during the production run, so a later engine carries less exposure.
- Listen on a cold start. Chain rattle is the warning you get. If you hear it, that engine needs the chain done before it goes anywhere near your car.
- Do the chain while the engine is out. It is dramatically cheaper on a bench than in the car, and it closes the only real question mark on this engine.
N20 or N26? Same car, two engines
This catches people constantly, and you can see it in our own listings: a 2016 328i appears with an N20 and also with an N26. Same model, same year, same rear-wheel drive. Different engine.
The N26 is the SULEV emissions variant, built from 2012 to 2016 for US states with SULEV legislation. It is based on the N20 with four specific changes:
| N20 | N26 (SULEV) |
|---|---|
| Rubber fuel lines | Metal fuel lines |
| Standard tank venting | Valve in the fuel tank venting system to leak-test the fuel system |
| Standard wastegate | Electronic wastegate |
| Standard catalytic converters | Larger catalytic converters |
The N26 was fitted to the F30 328i and 328iX, F22 228i and 228iX, and F32, F35 and F36 428i SULEV models, 2012 to 2016, US market only. In Canada BMW used the N26 as the N20’s replacement for a single year, 2016, on the 28i models.
If you order the wrong one of these two, the emissions hardware will not match your car. Check before you buy, not after.
N20 specifications
| Displacement | 1,997 cc (N20B20); a 1,592 cc N20B16 also exists |
|---|---|
| Bore × stroke | 84.0 mm × 90.1 mm |
| Configuration | Turbocharged inline four, DOHC, direct injection |
| Output | 154 bhp to 241 bhp depending on tune |
| Torque | 240–350 N·m, from as low as 1,250 rpm |
| Years | 2011–2017 |
| N26 | 1,997 cc, 241 hp, 350 N·m, SULEV, 2012–2016 |
Note that the N20 was sold in several distinct states of tune. A 154 bhp 320i unit and a 241 bhp 328i unit are both N20s, and they are not the same part.
How to identify your engine
On BMW, three things decide what fits, and the model year alone gives you none of them:
- The engine code — N20 or N26. This is the one most buyers miss.
- Drive layout — RWD or xDrive. Our listings state it on every unit, and the parts differ.
- State of tune — 320i, 328i, 428i and 228i are not interchangeable despite sharing an engine family.
Text your VIN to +1 (361) 470-5276 and we will tell you the engine code, whether yours is a SULEV car, the drive layout and every unit that interchanges. Free, and it takes a few minutes.
Which vehicles use the N20 and N26
| Model | Years |
|---|---|
| F30 320i / 328i · F34 320i GT | 2012–2016 |
| F32 / F35 / F36 420i / 428i | 2014–2016 |
| F22 220i / 228i | 2012–2016 |
| F20 125i | 2012–2017 |
| E84 X1 sDrive20i / xDrive20i | 2011–2015 |
| F25 X3 xDrive20i | 2011–2017 |
| F10 520i / 520Li / 525Li | 2011–2016 |
| E89 Z4 sDrive20i | 2011–2016 |
Browse stock: used BMW engines · used BMW transmissions.
Which to buy
- Later production over early. The timing chain guide issue is concentrated in early production engines, so a later unit is the lower-risk buy.
- An engine with documented chain work beats a cheaper one without it. On the N20 this is the single biggest factor in what the engine is actually worth.
- Match N20 to N20, N26 to N26. The emissions hardware differs, and on a SULEV car that matters for more than just compliance.
- Match the drive layout. RWD and xDrive units are listed separately for a reason.
Used vs remanufactured N20
When used makes sense
A later-production used N20 with the chain done is the best value on this platform. These engines are mechanically sound once the guide question is resolved, and a used unit costs a fraction of a rebuild.
When remanufactured makes sense
If you want the timing chain, guides and tensioner all addressed as part of the price, a rebuild does that in one transaction. Ask the rebuilder specifically what was done to the chain guides, because that is the component that matters here.
Used N20 and N26 prices
Our N20 and N26 units start at $2,946, priced by drive layout, state of tune and mileage. Mileage on every listing is read off the donor odometer rather than estimated, and we photograph the actual unit before it ships.
Live prices: used BMW engines.
What is included
Engines ship as tested assemblies. You transfer your own intake, sensors, accessories and flywheel or flexplate from the old engine. Each listing states what is attached to that unit.
Strongly consider doing the timing chain, guides and tensioner while the engine is out. On this engine that is not an upsell, it is the point.
Shipping and warranty
Every engine is compression tested and photographed on the pallet before dispatch. Preparation takes 3 to 5 business days, then 2 to 4 days in transit on insured freight. Shipping is free to any address in all 50 states, residential included.
Standard warranty is 6 months, extendable to 3 years, with 7-day returns and free return shipping. Full terms: engine warranty policy · shipping policy · returns.
Frequently asked questions
What is the BMW N20 timing chain problem?
Thousands of early production N20 engines were built with faulty internal plastic timing chain guides. As the guides degrade the chain is no longer held properly and can skip teeth on the upper camshaft sprocket, which causes catastrophic engine damage. A class action was filed in 2017, and in 2019 a judge partly granted and partly denied BMW's motion to dismiss.
What is the difference between the N20 and N26?
The N26 is the SULEV emissions variant of the N20, built from 2012 to 2016 for US states with SULEV legislation. It uses metal fuel lines instead of rubber, adds a valve in the fuel tank venting system to leak-test the fuel system, uses an electronic wastegate and fits larger catalytic converters. Otherwise it is the same 1,997 cc design.
Can I put an N20 in a car that came with an N26?
Not without consequences. The emissions hardware differs, including the fuel lines, tank venting, wastegate and catalytic converters. On a SULEV car you should match N26 to N26. Send us your VIN and we will confirm which one your car takes.
Which years are the risky N20 engines?
Early production units are where the timing chain guide failures are concentrated. BMW addressed the guide material during the production run, so later engines carry less exposure. Because it is a production change rather than a clean model-year cutoff, ask about documented chain work on any N20 you are considering.
Is a 320i engine the same as a 328i engine?
Both are N20 but in different states of tune, from roughly 154 bhp up to 241 bhp. They are not interchangeable as a straight swap. Match the specific application rather than the engine family.
Does the N20 use a timing belt or chain?
A chain. The problem is not the chain itself but the plastic guides that hold it, which on early production engines degrade and allow the chain to skip.
Does RWD or xDrive matter when buying a BMW engine?
Yes. Rear-wheel drive and xDrive units are listed separately because the parts differ. Our listings state the drive layout on every engine, and we match it before dispatch.
How much is a used BMW N20 engine?
Ours start at $2,946, priced by drive layout, state of tune and mileage. Every unit is compression tested and photographed before dispatch, and live pricing is on the BMW collection page.
Send your VIN and we will confirm N20 or N26, the drive layout, the tune and exactly what fits.
Call +1 (361) 470-5276 Browse BMW enginesMore buying guides: all used engine guides · VW & Audi 2.0T · Ford 3.5L EcoBoost