N42/N45/N46
BMW · 1.6-2.0L NA I4
2001–2011
"Slow, poor economy, unreliable. No reason to buy when 6-cyl options exist at same price."
Mileage Risk Timeline
When problems typically appear — enter your mileage to see your risk zone
Known Issues 3
VANOS unit failure / oil pump wear
▸Rough idle, loss of power, loud rattle, check engine light
N42/N45/N46 VANOS notoriously unreliable. Oil pump undersized. Combined failure common.
Main reason to AVOID this engine. Repair costs approach car value on cheap examples.
Timing chain and tensioner wear
▸Rattle on cold start, check engine light, rough running
Adds to the list of reasons to avoid. Chain stretches, tensioner fails.
Third major issue on an already unreliable engine. Avoid entirely.
Excessive oil consumption — piston rings
▸Oil level drops between services, blue smoke on acceleration
Piston ring design causes oil burning. Some owners add 1L per 3,000 km. BMW never properly acknowledged.
Avoid buying without checking oil consumption history.
Models with N42/N45/N46 10
Other BMW Engines
Tuning Potential
Not recommended
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the BMW N42/N45/N46 reliable?
The BMW N42/N45/N46 scores 28/100 with a verdict of AVOID. It has 3 documented issues with total repair costs between €1,700 and €5,000.
What are the common problems with the N42/N45/N46?
The most common issues are:
- VANOS unit failure / oil pump wear — high, repair cost €400–€1,200, 60,000 km–120,000 km
- Timing chain and tensioner wear — high, repair cost €800–€1,800, 80,000 km–150,000 km
- Excessive oil consumption — piston rings — high, repair cost €500–€2,000, 60,000 km–150,000 km
What cars use the BMW N42/N45/N46?
How much does it cost to repair the N42/N45/N46?
Total potential repair costs for all 3 known issues range from €1,700 to €5,000. The most expensive issue is typically .
What years was the N42/N45/N46 produced?
The BMW N42/N45/N46 was produced from 2001 to 2011. It is a 1995cc I4 petrol na engine.
Verdict and scores are editorial opinions based on aggregated data. Learn about our methodology. Not a substitute for professional inspection.