2015 220i Reliability

mo29

New member
Hi Guys, I've been thinking about getting a 220i for a while now and have seen one for sale at a reasonable price. Its a 2015 220i with 70k on the clock. So I will be taking it for a test drive on Saturday and would like to know what I should look out for in the car?

Also how reliable are these cars? Any common issues that you guys have experienced?

I had a look at the car today and asked the guys if they could give me the vin number but they said they can't. The car is currently at BMW supertech.

Any tips/info will be greatly appreciated :)
 

mo29

New member
So I have been doing some research and have found out that the car I am looking at may have either an N20 or B48 engine. From what I've read the B48 seems to be more reliable and the N20 used to have some issues with the timing chain.

How can I tell what engine this car has? Like from a visual inspection and is the N20 engine really that bad?

I would really appreciate it if someone could post photo's of the differences as I cant seem to find anything reliable on google at the moment.
 

6spdmanual

Active member
mo29 said:
So I have been doing some research and have found out that the car I am looking at may have either an N20 or B48 engine. From what I've read the B48 seems to be more reliable and the N20 used to have some issues with the timing chain.

How can I tell what engine this car has? Like from a visual inspection and is the N20 engine really that bad?

I would really appreciate it if someone could post photo's of the differences as I cant seem to find anything reliable on google at the moment.

I there. I could be wrong on this, but I've always assumed that the B48 220i BMW has twin tail pipes while the N20 only has a single pipe. I know that this is the case with the BMW 320i F20.

Once again, I could be wrong here - but that is the method that I use to differentiate between the two.
 

Lizzard

Active member
Morning,

Try and get the last 7 digits of that cars vin, this way you can search and see what engine it has. Just figuring it out doesnt work on any bmw, they may look the same from outside but they are different beasts.
 

peanut125i

Active member
Just take a photo of the vin when you go test drive the car and check it out when your get home.

And if they dont want you to leave it and find another car.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
 

mo29

New member
So I called BMW today to find out about the service cost of the car and the person I spoke to seemed like she didn't know anything. Can anyone tell me what I can expect to pay for the services for the car? Atleast a rough price for minor and major services if possible.

Also I'm going to try and get the vin number as I want to see the full history of the car that bmw should have. The car looks very very clean. Even the interior seems to be maintained pretty well but I do want to make sure that mechanically the car is in good condition.

Also as someone mentioned above about the dual or single tail pipe meaning N20 or B48 engine, just checking on autotrader even some of the 2016 220i's have a single tail pipe and from what I've read 2016 models should definitely have the B48 engine.
 

CA_130

///Member
mo29 said:
So I have been doing some research and have found out that the car I am looking at may have either an N20 or B48 engine. From what I've read the B48 seems to be more reliable and the N20 used to have some issues with the timing chain.

How can I tell what engine this car has? Like from a visual inspection and is the N20 engine really that bad?

I would really appreciate it if someone could post photo's of the differences as I cant seem to find anything reliable on google at the moment.

The sticker in the driver door frame will detail which engine if fitted, it usually the same sticker with the paint code, and tyre pressures.
 

CA_130

///Member
mo29 said:
So I called BMW today to find out about the service cost of the car and the person I spoke to seemed like she didn't know anything. Can anyone tell me what I can expect to pay for the services for the car? Atleast a rough price for minor and major services if possible.

Also I'm going to try and get the vin number as I want to see the full history of the car that bmw should have. The car looks very very clean. Even the interior seems to be maintained pretty well but I do want to make sure that mechanically the car is in good condition.

Also as someone mentioned above about the dual or single tail pipe meaning N20 or B48 engine, just checking on autotrader even some of the 2016 220i's have a single tail pipe and from what I've read 2016 models should definitely have the B48 engine.

Service cost estimator... you're welcome

https://www.bmw.co.za/en/topics/off...vQWZ0ZXJzYWxlcy9PbmxpbmVTZXJ2aWNlRXN0aW1hdGUv
 

CA_130

///Member
CA_130 said:
mo29 said:
So I called BMW today to find out about the service cost of the car and the person I spoke to seemed like she didn't know anything. Can anyone tell me what I can expect to pay for the services for the car? Atleast a rough price for minor and major services if possible.

Also I'm going to try and get the vin number as I want to see the full history of the car that bmw should have. The car looks very very clean. Even the interior seems to be maintained pretty well but I do want to make sure that mechanically the car is in good condition.

Also as someone mentioned above about the dual or single tail pipe meaning N20 or B48 engine, just checking on autotrader even some of the 2016 220i's have a single tail pipe and from what I've read 2016 models should definitely have the B48 engine.

Service cost estimator... you're welcome

https://www.bmw.co.za/en/topics/off...vQWZ0ZXJzYWxlcy9PbmxpbmVTZXJ2aWNlRXN0aW1hdGUv

You could also just phone around to BMW once you have the vin and ask, if the car is at supertech they should be able to tell you as well.
 

mo29

New member
CA_130 said:
mo29 said:
So I called BMW today to find out about the service cost of the car and the person I spoke to seemed like she didn't know anything. Can anyone tell me what I can expect to pay for the services for the car? Atleast a rough price for minor and major services if possible.

Also I'm going to try and get the vin number as I want to see the full history of the car that bmw should have. The car looks very very clean. Even the interior seems to be maintained pretty well but I do want to make sure that mechanically the car is in good condition.

Also as someone mentioned above about the dual or single tail pipe meaning N20 or B48 engine, just checking on autotrader even some of the 2016 220i's have a single tail pipe and from what I've read 2016 models should definitely have the B48 engine.

Service cost estimator... you're welcome

https://www.bmw.co.za/en/topics/off...vQWZ0ZXJzYWxlcy9PbmxpbmVTZXJ2aWNlRXN0aW1hdGUv

Awesome, thank you for that.

I did ask them and they showed me on the system that the car still has an active motor plan till August this year and there are no comments on the car so the car is in good condition? I really wanna take it for a test tomorrow
 

M135

New member
mo29 said:
So I called BMW today to find out about the service cost of the car and the person I spoke to seemed like she didn't know anything. Can anyone tell me what I can expect to pay for the services for the car? Atleast a rough price for minor and major services if possible.

Also I'm going to try and get the vin number as I want to see the full history of the car that bmw should have. The car looks very very clean. Even the interior seems to be maintained pretty well but I do want to make sure that mechanically the car is in good condition.

Also as someone mentioned above about the dual or single tail pipe meaning N20 or B48 engine, just checking on autotrader even some of the 2016 220i's have a single tail pipe and from what I've read 2016 models should definitely have the B48 engine.


My X3 (F25) XDrive 20d M Sport had a minor service done yesterday and it was R4870. Not sure if that will help you? All I can say is, BMW ownership comes with a price tag.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

PsyCLown

Well-known member
I believe the B48 came out in 2015, with the 3 series it was only sold in 2016 - not sure if its the same with the 2 series.

So with a 320i for example, a 2016 model could be either motor.
VIN number check really is the best and the N20 motor sounds terrible, I wouldn't buy the car if it has an N20 motor.
Look for another car or get the diesel (220d)... Actually maybe just consider the 220d as power is about the same I believe but fuel consumption will be far better on the diesel and regardless of which engine it has, they're great and reliable engines.

Sent from my Redmi Note 7 Pro using Tapatalk
 

lebofa

Active member
M135 said:
mo29 said:
So I called BMW today to find out about the service cost of the car and the person I spoke to seemed like she didn't know anything. Can anyone tell me what I can expect to pay for the services for the car? Atleast a rough price for minor and major services if possible.

Also I'm going to try and get the vin number as I want to see the full history of the car that bmw should have. The car looks very very clean. Even the interior seems to be maintained pretty well but I do want to make sure that mechanically the car is in good condition.

Also as someone mentioned above about the dual or single tail pipe meaning N20 or B48 engine, just checking on autotrader even some of the 2016 220i's have a single tail pipe and from what I've read 2016 models should definitely have the B48 engine.


My X3 (F25) XDrive 20d M Sport had a minor service done yesterday and it was R4870. Not sure if that will help you? All I can say is, BMW ownership comes with a price tag.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I paid half of that, assuming you are referring to oil change when you say minor service, with rear break pads replacement at ABM for my F30 (320D). It helps to check with the advertises and compare prices, try that next time and you will save
 

M135

New member
lebofa said:
M135 said:
mo29 said:
So I called BMW today to find out about the service cost of the car and the person I spoke to seemed like she didn't know anything. Can anyone tell me what I can expect to pay for the services for the car? Atleast a rough price for minor and major services if possible.

Also I'm going to try and get the vin number as I want to see the full history of the car that bmw should have. The car looks very very clean. Even the interior seems to be maintained pretty well but I do want to make sure that mechanically the car is in good condition.

Also as someone mentioned above about the dual or single tail pipe meaning N20 or B48 engine, just checking on autotrader even some of the 2016 220i's have a single tail pipe and from what I've read 2016 models should definitely have the B48 engine.


My X3 (F25) XDrive 20d M Sport had a minor service done yesterday and it was R4870. Not sure if that will help you? All I can say is, BMW ownership comes with a price tag.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I paid half of that, assuming you are referring to oil change when you say minor service, with rear break pads replacement at ABM for my F30 (320D). It helps to check with the advertises and compare prices, try that next time and you will save


7593d3961c4728ecb8b2a2cdbf0e46a8.jpg


This is what was registered and it was done through BMW directly.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

T-Dogg

New member
M135 said:
lebofa said:
M135 said:
mo29 said:
So I called BMW today to find out about the service cost of the car and the person I spoke to seemed like she didn't know anything. Can anyone tell me what I can expect to pay for the services for the car? Atleast a rough price for minor and major services if possible.

Also I'm going to try and get the vin number as I want to see the full history of the car that bmw should have. The car looks very very clean. Even the interior seems to be maintained pretty well but I do want to make sure that mechanically the car is in good condition.

Also as someone mentioned above about the dual or single tail pipe meaning N20 or B48 engine, just checking on autotrader even some of the 2016 220i's have a single tail pipe and from what I've read 2016 models should definitely have the B48 engine.


My X3 (F25) XDrive 20d M Sport had a minor service done yesterday and it was R4870. Not sure if that will help you? All I can say is, BMW ownership comes with a price tag.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I paid half of that, assuming you are referring to oil change when you say minor service, with rear break pads replacement at ABM for my F30 (320D). It helps to check with the advertises and compare prices, try that next time and you will save


7593d3961c4728ecb8b2a2cdbf0e46a8.jpg


This is what was registered and it was done through BMW directly.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Maybe it's a 6pot vs. 4 pot thing?
 
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