Verdict
A 2-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with direct injection, fitted to the BMW 116i 122 hp, 118i 143 hp and 320i 170 hp (2007-2011). More economical than the indirect-injection N46, it is fragile on the injection side: piezo injectors, ignition coils, NOx sensor and camshaft sensors, with bills that add up. The chain and its guides also need watching. Turn down a car with misfires, a rough idle or an engine warning light.
Years to favour or avoid
- To favour
- No year particularly to favour
- To avoid
- No year to avoid identified
Known faults
Piezo injectors, ignition coils, NOx sensor and camshaft sensors
Severity 2/3 · CostlyDirect injection is the N43's weak point: tired injectors, coils that send unburnt fuel into the catalytic converter, NOx sensor and camshaft sensors, with misfires, loss of power and an engine warning light. One owner of a 320i 170 hp paid €510 three times for sets of coils and €1,450 for a set of injectors.
- Versions
- bmw-n43
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- €510 to €1,450
Sources
- BMW Série 1 E87 : fiabilité et points à vérifier — carverif.fr (new tab)
- Analyse : fiabilité de la BMW Série 1 (E87) essence 116i — carverif.fr (new tab)
- BMW Série 3 (E90) Essence 320i : fiabilité et performance — carverif.fr (new tab)
- Les défauts et qualités : BMW Série 3 (2005-2011) — fiches-auto.fr (new tab)
- Moteurs BMW Série 1 (2004-2011) — fiches-auto.fr (new tab)
Timing chain and guides
Severity 2/3 · CostlyCrumbling chain guides and jumped chains are reported: one owner quotes €1,500 for the tensioner and chain at 56,000 km, another €2,000 for a jumped chain at 46,000 km.
- Versions
- bmw-n43
- Onset
- between 46,000 km and 56,000 km
- Repair
- €1,500 to €2,000
Models fitted
Extra cautionPhoto: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0
Maintain and diagnose this engine
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of car parts (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.