Engine oil — petrol
CBS: starting value 25,000 km / 24 months
A starting value, not a fixed interval: CBS adjusts it according to the fuel used. Due 24 months after the last change at the latest.
Source [3]E87 · 2007–2011
BMW 120i E87 · 170 PS (2007–2011)
The 120i shares its block with the 118i but revs higher and gets larger front brakes. That last point matters most when ordering parts.
Choose an engine
Identify the car and prepare its maintenanceTechnical specifications
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Power
- 170 PS / 125 kW
- Displacement
- 1 995 cm³
- Torque
- 210 Nm
- Cylinders
- 4
- Engine code
- N43
- Period covered
- 2007–2011
- Documented market
- Europe
Transmission
- Manual · 6 speeds · 2007
- Automatic · 6 speeds · 2007
Figures apply to the cited configuration and market; equipment and transmissions may vary by production date.
Specification source : [7] BMW Group
Manufacturer figures — manual gearbox
- 0–100 km/h acceleration
- 7.8 s
- Combined consumption — period European cycle
- 6.4 l/100 km
Figures published at launch for the cited manual configuration. Consumption is a test-cycle measurement, not a real-world guarantee; automatic versions may differ. Source [7]
What distinguishes this version
The same 2.0 litre (1,995 cc) direct-injection engine as the 118i, with a switchable intake manifold: 125 kW at 6,700 rpm and 210 Nm at 4,250 rpm, 15 kW more than the old 120i. BMW quotes 7.8 s and 6.4 l/100 km for the five-door manual. The TIS index links it to the N43.
Engine oil: quantity and approval
Oil change with filter: 4.25 l according to TIS data for the N43 B20. Longlife-04 oils are approved for petrol engines only in the EU, Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein; outside that area, use the approval BMW specifies for the country.
What the CBS tracks
Oil: calculated from fuel used, starting value 25,000 km, 24 months at most. Front and rear pads: two separate countdowns. Brake fluid: 24 months. Vehicle check: 50,000 km or 48 months. The microfilter is replaced at every oil service, spark plugs and air filter at every third; they no longer have their own display. For the N43, BMW raised the starting value to 30,000 km (ECE markets) on cars built from 09/2008.
Timing drive
Chain-driven. TIS has a chain replacement procedure, but no chain item appears in the CBS list: it is a repair, not scheduled maintenance.
Prepare the next service
Say “120i”, not just “1 Series”: its front discs are larger than the 118i’s. Count oil services since the last spark plugs and note whether the car is an automatic.
AutoKarnet advice
Maintenance and records
Front and rear brake pads
Wear calculated per axle
Two separate countdowns fed by the wear sensors. With new pads, replace the wear sensor as well before resetting the display.
Source [2]Cabin microfilter
At every engine oil service
Since March 2007 the microfilter has no CBS countdown of its own: it is replaced at each oil service on cars with air conditioning.
Source [8]Spark plugs
Every 3rd engine oil service
Since March 2007 the plugs follow the oil services and no longer have a CBS countdown: the 60,000 and 100,000 km figures of the earlier cars no longer apply. Keep count of oil services.
Source [8]Engine air filter
Every 3rd engine oil service
Intake silencer element. Shorten the interval in dusty regions.
Source [8]Brake fluid
Calendar-based
24 months
Counted from the vehicle’s on-board date, even at low mileage. That date stops when the battery is disconnected: correct it afterwards.
Source [4]Vehicle check
Whichever comes first
50 000 km
48 months
A CBS item separate from the oil service, managed by the instrument cluster.
Source [4]Questions about this version (5)
What separates it from a 118i?
The same 2.0 block, but with a switchable intake manifold: 125 kW at 6,700 rpm and 210 Nm, against 105 kW and 190 Nm.
Source : [7]
Does it share the 118i’s brakes?
Not at the front: vented 300 × 24 mm discs on the 120i versus 292 × 22 mm on the 118i. At the rear both have 296 × 10.5 mm per BMW’s table.
Source : [7]
Does the automatic use more fuel?
No, according to BMW: 6.3 l/100 km automatic versus 6.4 l manual, but 8.4 s to 100 km/h instead of 7.8 s.
Source : [7]
How much coolant?
7.3 l including the heater, 7.9 l with the automatic gearbox, per BMW’s 2007 table.
Source : [7]
When is the vehicle check due?
At 50,000 km or 48 months, whichever comes first. It is a CBS item separate from the oil service.
Source : [4]
Documentary sources
- [1] BMW AG TIS — CBS E87, bulletin 00 01 04 (070)
BMW AG (TIS, copie archivée) · EN · Worldwide · Archive · p. 1 · update 11/2006 · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [2] BMW AG TIS — calcul huile, microfiltre et freins
BMW AG (TIS, copie archivée) · EN · Worldwide · Archive · p. 3 · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [3] BMW AG TIS — CBS, valeurs de départ EURO
BMW AG (TIS, copie archivée) · EN · Europe · Archive · p. 4 · starting values, not fixed mileage intervals · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [4] BMW TIS — CBS: spark plugs, vehicle check, brake fluid
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · SBT CBS · p. 5 · EURO · update 11/2006 · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [5] BMW TIS — BMW Quality Longlife-04
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · SI 11 03 04 (156) · revision 09/2005 · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [6] BMW TIS — 1 Series E87, vehicle and engine index
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · Vehicle list (model / engine / body) · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [7] BMW Media Information 1/2007 — The new BMW 1 Series
BMW Group · EN · Germany · PDF pp. 4–5 (five-door engines), p. 34–35 (five-door specifications, German market) · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [8] BMW TIS — Oil service, petrol from 03/2007
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · RA 00 00 610 · from 03/2007 · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [9] BMW TIS — Harmonisation of oil change intervals
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · ECE · SI 00 13 07 (391) · 10/2007 · launch 09/2008 · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [10] BMW TIS — Oil Supply N43 B20
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · TD 11 40 · oil change volume with oil filter · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [11] BMW TIS — Replacing timing chain (N43)
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · RA 11 31 · N43 · Accessed 08/10/2026