Car Model Guide/ Engines/ N46

N46B20

Port-injected four with Valvetronic. No fuel-system drama, but the rear-mounted timing chain and its plastic guides are the reason people sell them.

Configuration	I4, naturally aspirated	Displacement	1995 cc
Fuel	petrol	Injection	port
Shared components	none recorded

Cars using this engine

Variant	Chassis	Body	Years	Power	Risk	Good buy
318i	E90	sedan	2005–2011	143 PS	R3	€3,100
318i	E91	wagon	2005–2011	143 PS	R3	€3,300
320i	E90	sedan	2005–2007	150 PS	R3	€3,400
320i	E91	wagon	2005–2007	150 PS	R3	€3,600
118i	E87	hatchback	2004–2007	129 PS	R2	€2,900
120i	E87	hatchback	2004–2007	150 PS	R2	€3,250

Engine and component issues

Timing chain and guide wearN46B20€1,000–€1,800

Rattle on cold start that becomes a constant chatter, then timing correlation faults. Plastic chain guides wear and the chain stretches. The chain sits at the rear of the engine, so access is poor.

Check: Cold start only. Any sustained rattle from the bulkhead end of the engine is this until proven otherwise.

EnginecommonDetectable at viewingevidence: documented120–200k km

Chassis, gearbox and body issues aren't listed here. They depend on which car the engine is fitted to. Open a variant page for the merged list.