BMW B38 engines
Content
The 3-liter BMW B38 1.5-cylinder engine series has been assembled since 2013 and is installed on cars with front-wheel drive like B38A15, rear-wheel drive like B38B15 and hybrids like B38K15. Also, these units are installed on the Mini: 1.2-liter B38A12A and 1.5-liter B38A15A.
The R3 line so far includes only one family of motors.
BMW B38 engine design
B38 three-cylinder petrol engines from the modular family debuted in 2013 as part of the i8 coupe hybrid power plant, but conventional modifications soon appeared. By design, there is an aluminum block with plasma-sprayed steel and a closed jacket, an aluminum 12-valve cylinder head equipped with hydraulic lifters and direct fuel injection, Vanos phase shifters on both camshafts, plus a Valvetronic system and a timing chain drive. The engine is supercharged by a single water-cooled Continental turbocharger. It should also be noted the presence of a balancing shaft and a Bosch MEVD 17.2.3 control unit.
Engine number B38 is located at the junction of the block with the box
Modifications of BMW B38 engines
We have summarized the technical characteristics of the gasoline and hybrid versions of the B38 engine in two tables:
| A type | in-line |
| Number of cylinders | 3 |
| Number of valves | 12 |
| Exact volume | 1499 cm³ |
| Bore | 82 mm |
| Piston stroke | 94.6 mm |
| Supply system | direct injection |
| Power | 102 - 140 HP |
| Torque | 180 - 220 Nm |
| Compression ratio | 11.0 |
| fuel type | AI-98 |
| Environmental standards | EURO 6 |
| A type | in-line |
| Number of cylinders | 3 |
| Number of valves | 12 |
| Exact volume | 1499 cm³ |
| Bore | 82 mm |
| Piston stroke | 94.6 mm |
| Supply system | direct injection |
| Power | 231 hp |
| Torque | 320 Nm |
| Compression ratio | 9.5 |
| fuel type | AI-98 |
| Environmental standards | EURO 6 |
We divided all modifications of motors into groups according to the type of drive plus hybrid separately:
| 2-Series F45 | 2015 – 2018 |
| 2-Series F46 | 2015 – 2018 |
| 1-Series F40 | 2020 - p.t. |
| 2-Series F45 | 2018 – 2021 |
| 2-Series F46 | 2018 - p.t. |
| 2-Series F45 | 2014 – 2018 |
| 2-Series F46 | 2015 – 2018 |
| X1-Series F48 | 2015 – 2017 |
| 1-Series F40 | 2019 - p.t. |
| 2-Series F44 | 2020 - p.t. |
| 2-Series F45 | 2018 – 2021 |
| 2-Series F46 | 2018 - p.t. |
| X1-Series F48 | 2017 - p.t. |
| X2-Series F39 | 2018 - p.t. |
| 1-Series F20 | 2015 – 2019 |
| 1-Series F20 | 2015 – 2019 |
| 2-Series F22 | 2015 – 2021 |
| 3-Series F30 | 2015 – 2018 |
| i8-Series L12 | 2013 – 2020 |
| i8 L15 | 2017 – 2020 |
This line of engines was installed on many Mini models, but we have separate articles about them:
| B38A12A ( 75 hp / 150 Nm ) |
| Mini Hatch F55, Hatch F56 |
| B38A12A ( 102 hp / 180 Nm ) |
| Mini Hatch F55, Hatch F56, Cabrio F57 |
| B38A15A ( 75 hp / 160 Nm ) |
| Mini Hatch F55, Hatch F56 |
| B38A15A ( 102 hp / 190 Nm ) |
| Mini Hatch F56, Clubman F54, Countryman F60 |
| B38A15A ( 136 hp / 220 Nm ) |
| Mini Hatch F56, Clubman F54, Countryman F60 |
Similar motors from other manufacturers:
Disadvantages, problems and breakdowns of the BMW B38 engine
Engines until 2015 suffered from excessive axial clearance on the crankshaft and the thrust bearing collapsed at 50 km. And then the design was finalized.
The aluminum casing of the water-cooled turbine here is integral with the exhaust manifold and cracks from overheating, which leads to leakage of antifreeze.
Like all internal combustion engines with direct fuel injection, the intake valves are overgrown with soot, which results in floating speed and unstable operation of the power unit.
Weaknesses also include not the most durable catalyst and adsorber valve. Also, at high mileage, failures in the VANOS and Valvetronic systems are often encountered.
The manufacturer claims the resource of the B38 engine is 200 km, but it also serves up to 000 km.
The cost of the BMW B38 engine on the secondary
| The minimum cost | 170 000 rubles |
| Average price on the secondary | 250 000 rubles |
| Maximum cost | 320 000 rubles |
| Contract engine abroad | 2 500 euro |
| Buy such a new unit | 12 300 euro |
| Condition: | BOO |
| Box & Papers: | assembled |
| Working volume: | 1.5 liters |
| Power: | 140 hp |
* We do not sell engines, the price is for reference
