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10 September 2025 BMW F30 Engines
The BMW 3 Series F30 was launched in 2012 and established itself as the most successful mid-size sedan of its time with a diverse range of engines throughout its production life. From economical three-cylinder petrol engines to powerful six-cylinder diesels, the F30 generation offered technological innovations and varying degrees of reliability.
BMW F30 engines (2012-2019)
The BMW F30 generation represented a technological quantum leap compared to the predecessor E90 and was characterized by modern, but in some cases not yet fully mature engine technologies. Mileage varied considerably depending on the engine type: while the tried-and-tested BMW F30 six-cylinder diesels easily reached 400,000 to 500,000 kilometers with proper maintenance, the early three-cylinder petrol engines often required costly repairs to the timing chain or injection system between 150,000 and 200,000 kilometers. The absolute top engine of this generation was the 330d with its 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel, which produced 258 hp and optimally combined power, reliability and economy. Typical repair intervals for most engines were between 120,000 and 180,000 kilometers for major maintenance work.
BMW F30 petrol engines (2012-2019)
The BMW F30 petrol engine range included a wide selection of three, four and six-cylinder engines. It started with the 316i (136 hp) with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, followed by the revolutionary 318i with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine (136 hp from 2015). However, these BMW F30 engines from the TwinPower Turbo family suffered from typical teething troubles: Timing chain stretching, oil consumption and occasional problems with the high-pressure pump. The 320i with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (184 hp, later 156 hp) developed into the most balanced petrol engine in the series. The six-cylinder variants 325i (218 hp), 328i (245 hp) and 335i (306 hp) offered excellent driving performance, but occasionally exhibited problems with the injection nozzles and turbochargers during intensive use.
BMW F30 diesel engines (2012-2019)
The BMW F30 diesels were dominated by proven four-cylinder technology with the 316d (116 hp), 318d (143 hp, later 150 hp) and 320d (184 hp, later 190 hp). These BMW F30 TwinPower turbo diesels with common-rail injection and particulate filter proved to be exceptionally reliable and economical. The BMW F30 320d developed into the bestseller of the entire generation - especially the variants produced from 2015 onwards with optimized exhaust gas purification demonstrated outstanding long-term durability. The six-cylinder diesel engines 325d (218 hp), 330d (258 hp) and the later introduced 335d (313 hp) offered sporty performance with low fuel consumption and were considered the technical highlights of the BMW F30 engines.
BMW F30 high-performance engines (2012-2019)
The BMW M3 F80 (431 hp) and M4 F82/F83 (431 hp) received the S55 engine, a 3.0-liter six-cylinder biturbo that is considered one of the most powerful BMW F30 engines. In addition, there was the 340i with B58 engine (326 hp from 2015), which established itself as a particularly reliable high-performance engine.
| BMW F30 engine | Power output | Fuel consumption | Typical weaknesses | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 316i/318i | 136 HP | 5.8-6.4 l/100km | Timing chain, three-cylinder vibrations | Average |
| 320i | 156-184 HP | 6.1-6.8 l/100km | Occasional high pressure pump | Good |
| 328i/335i | 245-306 HP | 7.2-8.1 l/100km | Injectors, turbocharger | Good |
| 316d/318d | 116-150 HP | 4.1-4.6 l/100km | Very robust | Very good |
| 320d | 184-190 HP | 4.3-4.8 l/100km | Exceptionally reliable | Very good |
| 330d/335d | 258-313 HP | 5.1-5.8 l/100km | Sporty and economical | Very good |
| M3/M4 S55 | 431 HP | 8.8-9.4 l/100km | Complex, but robust | Good |
BMW F30 LCI generation engines (2015-2019)
The BMW F30 facelift (LCI - Life Cycle Impulse) in 2015 brought with it revised engines and improved reliability. Most engines in this phase can easily reach 300,000 to 450,000 kilometers with proper maintenance, with the revised diesel engines being considered particularly durable. Major engine failures became rarer, mainly due to improved material quality and optimized control software. The absolute highlight was the revised 330d with 258 hp, which became even more efficient thanks to refined injection and optimized exhaust gas purification. Modern BMW EfficientDynamics technology with automatic start-stop and brake energy recovery was also introduced as standard for the first time.
BMW F30 LCI petrol engines: Generation (2015-2019)
The revised BMW F30 petrol engine range received the new 318i with 1.5-liter three-cylinder TwinPower-Turbo (136 hp), which ran surprisingly smoothly despite its compact design. The BMW F30 320i was upgraded to 184 hp and received improved direct injection. A new addition was the 340i with the modern B58 six-cylinder engine (326 hp), which established itself as one of the most reliable BMW F30 engines. These BMW F30 LCI petrol engines showed significantly fewer problems than their predecessors, with only occasional difficulties with the fuel pump or ignition coils after high mileage.
BMW F30 LCI diesel engines: Generation (2015-2019)
The BMW F30 LCI diesel engines all received performance upgrades: The 318d was upgraded to 150 hp, the 320d to 190 hp. All BMW F30 diesels featured state-of-the-art common-rail injection with up to 2,500 bar injection pressure and SCR catalytic converter. The BMW F30 320d LCI with 190 hp proved to be the most balanced engine of the entire F30 generation, with a test consumption of only 4.3-4.6 liters per 100 km and exceptional reliability. The six-cylinder diesels 330d (258 hp) and 335d (313 hp) retained their outstanding characteristics and continued to be regarded as the reference in the segment.
BMW F30 LCI high-performance engines: Generation (2015-2019)
The BMW M3 F80 LCI and M4 F82/F83 LCI received a power increase to 450 hp with the S55 engine. The new 340i with B58 engine (326 hp) developed into an insider tip among the BMW F30 engines - it offered almost M performance with significantly better everyday usability and reliability.
| BMW F30 LCI engine | Power output | Fuel consumption | Typical weaknesses | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 318i | 136 HP | 5.6-6.1 l/100km | Three-cylinder character | Good |
| 320i | 184 HP | 6.0-6.5 l/100km | Very reliable | Very good |
| 340i B58 | 326 HP | 6.8-7.4 l/100km | Excellent reliability | Very good |
| 318d | 150 HP | 4.0-4.4 l/100km | Very robust | Very good |
| 320d | 190 HP | 4.3-4.6 l/100km | Reference diesel | Very good |
| 330d | 258 HP | 5.0-5.4 l/100km | Sporty and efficient | Very good |
| 335d | 313 HP | 5.6-6.1 l/100km | Powerful and economical | Very good |
| M3/M4 S55 | 450 HP | 8.6-9.2 l/100km | Highly complex, but robust | Good |
Conclusion: The best BMW F30 engines of all generations
The development of the BMW F30 engines clearly demonstrates Bavaria's expertise in engine construction - while the BMW F30 diesel engines remained exceptionally reliable throughout the entire production period, the petrol engines also developed into mature and durable units. The facelift models from 2015 onwards represent the technical pinnacle of the F30 generation and offer an ideal balance between performance, efficiency and reliability.
- Best BMW F30 gasoline engine:
The BMW F30 340i with B58 engine (326 hp, LCI) combines outstanding driving performance with exceptional reliability and moderate fuel consumption.
- Best BMW F30 diesel engine:
The BMW F30 320d LCI (190 hp) offers the best combination of reliability, economy and everyday usability across the entire F30 generation.
- Best BMW F30 high-performance engine:
The BMW F30 330d (258 hp) with its unique combination of sporty performance and diesel efficiency is considered a technical masterpiece.
For maintenance and spare parts for all BMW F30 generations, AUTODOC offers a comprehensive range of original and quality spare parts with fast delivery and expert advice.
