F20/F21 · 2015–2019

BMW 116i F20/F21 · 109 PS (2015–2019)

The 116i opens the petrol range of the facelifted 1 Series and is the first with three cylinders: 80 kW from a 1.5 litre, manual gearbox only, from March 2015 to the end of production in 2019.

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Technical specifications

Fuel
Petrol
Power
109 PS / 80 kW
Displacement
1 499 cm³
Torque
180 Nm
Cylinders
3
Engine code
B38
Period covered
2015–2019
Documented market
Europe

Transmission

  • Manual · 6 speeds · 2015

Figures apply to the cited configuration and market; equipment and transmissions may vary by production date.

Specification source : [1] BMW Group [2] BMW Group [3] BMW Group

Manufacturer figures — manual gearbox

0–100 km/h acceleration
10.9 s
Combined consumption — period European cycle
5.0 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 [1]

What distinguishes this version

1,499 cc three-cylinder petrol with turbocharger, direct injection, VALVETRONIC and double VANOS (engine code B38 in BMW’s parts catalogue, B38B15A at ADAC): 80 kW and 180 Nm. BMW lists only a six-speed manual gearbox, in three- and five-door form. BMW’s January 2015 table: 10.9 s from 0 to 100 km/h, 195 km/h and 5.0 l/100 km on standard tyres.

Source : [1] [2] [8] [4] [5]

Engine oil: quantity and approval

Oil change: 4.25 l, the same figure in BMW’s January 2015 and July 2017 specification tables (oil change quantity). Approval: the 2019 chart of Original BMW engine oils published by a BMW dealer lists, for BMW’s modular petrol engines (B38, B48 and B58, the “Bx8” family in BMW training documents) from model year 2014: BMW Longlife-04 (SAE 5W-30 or 0W-30), Longlife-12 FE (0W-30) and Longlife-17 FE+ (0W-20). The chart itself refers to the owner’s handbook for the binding approval and quantity: check yours.

Source : [1] [3] [7]

Timing drive

Chain (ADAC: “Steuerkette”). BMW’s training document for the Bx8 petrol engines describes a two-part chain drive on the transmission side of the engine, where the gearbox’s inertia reduces the loads on the chain; the oil-vacuum pump has its own chain. No scheduled replacement in the documents consulted: the chain is a repair item, not maintenance.

Source : [8] [6]

Prepare the next service

Before the appointment, note 4.25 l of oil at the change and the approval printed in your handbook. Also note the build month (registration document or VIN plate): it decides which recalls can apply. ADAC lists a BMW recall of October 2025 for cars built 09/2015–09/2021: water can get into the starter relay, with a fire risk; remedy: new starter. Another, of September 2024, covers cars built 01/2016–12/2017: driver airbag gas generator, airbag replaced. Have BMW or the workshop check your VIN. We found no BMW document giving numbered service values for this phase: ask the workshop to print the due items the car displays (oil, brakes, brake fluid, vehicle check), and do not carry over the intervals BMW published for the E87.

Source : [1] [3] [8]

Maintenance and records

Questions about this version (5)

Is there an automatic 116i?

Not in BMW’s tables: the January 2015 and July 2017 specifications list a six-speed manual only, and BMW’s May 2017 press kit names the 116i, with the 118d xDrive, as the only models that cannot have the eight-speed Steptronic.

Source : [2] [1] [3]

Is it the same engine as the 118i?

Same 1,499 cc family (B38 in the parts catalogue) as the 118i built from July 2015, which has 100 kW and 220 Nm instead of 80 kW and 180 Nm. Both take 4.25 l of oil according to BMW.

Source : [4] [3]

Did the 2017 update change the engine?

Output and torque stay at 80 kW and 180 Nm, and ADAC gives the same engine code (B38B15A) before and after July 2017. BMW’s 2017 table quotes peak power at 4,250 rpm, against 4,500–6,000 rpm in 2015.

Source : [1] [3] [8] [9]

Which emissions standard?

ADAC lists Euro 6b (NEDC) for cars from 03/2015 and Euro 6d-TEMP-EVAP (WLTP) for the version sold from 07/2018. The certificate of conformity or the registration document gives yours.

Source : [8] [9]

Which octane rating?

BMW’s 2015 and 2017 tables give “min RON 91” for this engine: a minimum, not a recommendation.

Source : [1] [3]

Documentary sources

  1. [1] BMW Media information 01/2015 — The new BMW 1 Series model range

    BMW Group · EN · Europe (ACEA) · PDF pp. 2–8 (summary: lights, M135i 240 kW), pp. 22–24 (“five new diesel engines”) · Accessed 08/10/2026

  2. [2] BMW Media information 05/2017 — The new BMW 1 Series

    BMW Group · EN · Europe (ACEA) · pp. 1–2 (launch July 2017, interior), pp. 4–5 (engines, gearboxes, xDrive) · Accessed 08/10/2026

  3. [3] BMW Specifications 5/2017 — The BMW 1 Series 3-door and 5-door

    BMW Group · EN · Europe (ACEA) · Valid from 7/2017 · three-door: 116i pp. 1–2, 118i pp. 3–4, 120i/125i pp. 5–6, M140i pp. 7–10, 116d pp. 11–12, 118d pp. 13–14, 120d pp. 15–16, 125d pp. 17–18; five-door from p. 19 · “oil change volume” · Accessed 08/10/2026

  4. [4] BMW parts catalogue (ETK) — BMW 1 Series F20 LCI 5-door, Europe: models and engines

    bmwfans.info (copy of the BMW ETK parts catalogue) · EN · Europe · Model list (model – engine), F20N · Accessed 08/10/2026

  5. [5] BMW parts catalogue (ETK) — BMW 1 Series F21 LCI 3-door, Europe: models and engines

    bmwfans.info (copy of the BMW ETK parts catalogue) · EN · Europe · Model list (model – engine), F21N · Accessed 08/10/2026

  6. [6] BMW Technical training — B46 Engine (with the B38 three-cylinder)

    BMW of North America — Technical training (archive.org copy) · EN · USA · Information status June 2014 · §1 (B38/B46, “Bx8”) · §2.2.7 Chain drive, Bx8 engines (pp. 57–58) · Accessed 08/10/2026

  7. [7] Original BMW und MINI Motorenöle — Produkt-Portfolio und Motorenanwendung

    BMW Autohaus Faba (authorised BMW dealer) · DE · Germany · One-page chart, November 2019 · rows: modular (“Baukasten”) and N20 petrol engines from MY 2014; petrol engines from MY 2002; diesel engines from MY 2014 · binding approval: owner’s handbook · Accessed 08/10/2026

  8. [8] ADAC Autokatalog — BMW 116i Advantage (3-Türer) (03/15 – 06/17)

    ADAC · DE · Germany · Technische Daten: Motorcode, Leistung, Drehmoment, Hubraum, Modellstart/Modellende, Schadstoffklasse, Nockenwellensteuerung · Rückrufe · Accessed 08/10/2026

  9. [9] ADAC Autokatalog — BMW 116i (3-Türer) (07/18 – 06/19)

    ADAC · DE · Germany · Technische Daten: Motorcode, Leistung, Drehmoment, Hubraum, Modellstart/Modellende, Schadstoffklasse, Nockenwellensteuerung · Rückrufe · Accessed 08/10/2026

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