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N13B16

120i 177 hp (130 kW, 2015-2016) engine: faults and reliability

BMW N13 (N13B16) version

With caution

It shares with the other N13 versions the timing chain and tensioner wear flagged by BMW in its 2013 technical bulletin, as well as the oil consumption and injector carbon build-up documented for the whole Prince family.[1][2]

Years
2015–2016
Power
177 hp
Faults that affect it
4
1 of high or critical severity
Cars that use it
1
in our database

2 sourcesHow we work

What changes in this version

Last power step of the N13, with 177 hp (130 kW), introduced in March 2015 with the F20 facelift for the new 120i; it briefly coexisted with the first B37/B38 three-cylinder engines before they completed the replacement of the N13.[1]

Engine codes of this version: N13B16.

Faults of the N13B16 engine

The documented engine faults that affect this version and its years, from most to least important.

  1. 1Critical severityFrequency: CommonTimingTiming chain and tensioner wearYes: in 2013 BMW issued a technical bulletin on timing chain and tensioner wear on the N13, an engine related to PSA's 1.6 THP. The chain proved more durable than on the N43 it replaces, but the German workshops we consulted still point to it as a weak point.
  2. 2Medium severityFrequency: CommonLubricationHigh oil consumptionYes: like the rest of the Prince family (EP6/THP), the N13 can use oil between changes; the German publication Gebrauchtwagenberater.de documents extreme cases of up to 1 litre per 1,000 km and expressly cites the 114i, 116i and 316i among the affected models.
  3. 3Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalInjectionHigh-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failureThe high-pressure pump that feeds the N13's direct injection can fail. English Wikipedia generically documents several cases of extended-warranty replacement within the Prince family, with no specific figures or N13-specific recall.
  4. 4Low severityFrequency: CommonInjectionCarbon build-up on direct injection injectorsYes: being direct injection, the N13 can build up carbon on the injectors over time, with loss of power and higher consumption. Gebrauchtwagenberater.de places this problem on almost the whole Prince family, apart from PSA's naturally aspirated EP6/EP6C variants.

Cars fitted with the N13B16 engine

Open each car to see all its faults with this engine and what to check before buying it.

BMW

Frequently asked questions

Is the N13B16 engine reliable?

Our verdict is “With caution”. It shares with the other N13 versions the timing chain and tensioner wear flagged by BMW in its 2013 technical bulletin, as well as the oil consumption and injector carbon build-up documented for the whole Prince family.[1][2]

What faults does the N13B16 engine have?

The documented ones that affect this version, by importance: timing chain and tensioner wear (critical severity), high oil consumption (medium severity), high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure (medium severity) and carbon build-up on direct injection injectors (low severity).

Which cars use the N13B16 engine?

BMW Serie 1 F20 (2011–2016).[1]

Are you buying a car with the N13B16 engine?

We will put you in touch with a partner only if you authorise it in the form.

Do you have a car with this engine? Tell us which faults you have had and at how many kilometres. Report your fault.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. BMW N13Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  2. Tickende Zeitbombe: So zuverlässig ist der Prince-Motor von PSA und BMWGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 13 March 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German