F20/F21 · 2015–2019

BMW 118i F20/F21 · 136 PS (2015–2019, 3-cyl.)

From July 2015 the 118i switched to a 1.5 three-cylinder with the same 100 kW as the four-cylinder it replaced. It stayed in the range until 2019, manual or automatic.

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Technical specifications

Fuel
Petrol
Power
136 PS / 100 kW
Displacement
1 499 cm³
Torque
220 Nm
Cylinders
3
Engine code
B38
Period covered
2015–2019
Documented market
Europe

Transmission

  • Manual · 6 speeds · 2015
  • Automatic · 8 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
8.5 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 [3]

What distinguishes this version

1,499 cc three-cylinder turbo petrol (B38 in BMW’s parts catalogue, B38B15A at ADAC): 100 kW at 4,400 rpm and 220 Nm from 1,250 to 4,300 rpm according to BMW’s July 2017 table. Six-speed manual or eight-speed Steptronic, three or five doors. 0–100 km/h in 8.5 s (automatic 8.7 s), 210 km/h, 5.0 l/100 km on standard tyres.

Source : [3] [2] [9] [4] [5]

Engine oil: quantity and approval

Oil change: 4.25 l according to BMW’s specification table valid from July 2017 (“oil change volume”). 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 : [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 : [9] [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 : [3] [9]

Maintenance and records

Questions about this version (5)

220 or 240 Nm?

BMW’s July 2017 table gives 220 Nm from 1,250 to 4,300 rpm. ADAC’s catalogue shows 240 Nm on some 118i entries and 220 Nm on others; we keep BMW’s figure.

Source : [3] [9] [10]

How do I tell it from the early-2015 N13 118i?

By displacement (1,499 cc against 1,598 cc) and by date: ADAC lists the three-cylinder from 07/2015 and the N13 from 03/2015 to 05/2015, BMW having announced the three-cylinder for July 2015.

Source : [8] [9] [2] [1]

How much oil?

4.25 l at an oil change according to BMW’s July 2017 table, against 4.2 l for the four-cylinder N13 118i of early 2015.

Source : [3] [1]

Which emissions standard?

ADAC lists Euro 6b (NEDC) for the 07/2015–06/2017 version and Euro 6d-TEMP-EVAP (WLTP) for the one sold from 07/2018. Your registration document gives yours.

Source : [9] [10]

Where is the timing chain?

On the transmission side: BMW’s training document for the Bx8 engines, the B38 among them, places the two-part chain drive at the gearbox end of the engine, where the transmission’s inertia reduces the loads on the chain.

Source : [6]

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 model upgrade measures in the summer of 2015

    BMW Group · EN · Europe · p. 1–2 “New three-cylinder petrol engine for the BMW 1 Series” (118i from July 2015) · p. 10 consumption table · 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 118i Sport Line Steptronic (3-Türer) (03/15 – 05/15)

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

  9. [9] ADAC Autokatalog — BMW 118i Advantage Steptronic (5-Türer) (07/15 – 06/17)

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

  10. [10] ADAC Autokatalog — BMW 118i Edition Metropolitan (5-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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