Oil and filter change
Per CBS, at the latest 24 months
24 months
Due date calculated by the car from use. BMW Longlife-approved oil suited to the engine.
Source [1]E83 · 2005–2010
BMW X3 xDrive20i E83 · 150 hp (2005 to 2010)
The BMW X3 xDrive20i of the E83 generation uses the N46B20 petrol engine with 150 hp. Oil, timing drive and known issues of this engine are covered in the “Engine” block on this page.
Choose an engine
Identify the car and prepare its maintenanceTechnical specifications
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Power
- 150 PS / 110 kW
- Displacement
- 1 995 cm³
- Cylinders
- 4
- Engine code
- N46B20
- Period covered
- 2005–2010
- Documented market
- Europe
Transmission
- Manual · 6 speeds
- Automatic · 6 speeds
Figures apply to the cited configuration and market; equipment and transmissions may vary by production date.
Specification source : [1] AutoKarnet
This version
150 hp (110 kW), xDrive all-wheel drive, 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. Built from 2005 to 2010.
AutoKarnet advice
In the range
It is the entry-level petrol version of this generation. The N46B20 engine is also fitted to: BMW X1 (E84), BMW Z4 (E85/E86).
AutoKarnet advice
BMW N46 petrol engine (2.0 l four-cylinder)
This applies to every car fitted with the N46 engine.
What the N46 is
A naturally aspirated 1,995 cc four-cylinder petrol engine (84 × 90 mm). BMW’s workshop documentation lists it in the E87 1 Series 118i and 120i and in the E90/E91 3 Series among others; for the E87 118i, BMW gives the 100 kW N46B20U2 version. The direct-injection N43 and then the turbocharged N13 replaced it.
Engine oil
Oil change with filter: 4.25 l according to TIS data for the N46. Longlife-04 is approved for petrol engines only in the EU, Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein; elsewhere, use the approval BMW specifies for the country. CBS calculates the oil service; from September 2008, BMW encodes a 30,000 km starting value for the N46TU (except in countries with a shortened provision): a forecast adjusted to use, not a guaranteed interval.
Maintenance and records
Pads and discs
Per wear sensors
Front and rear tracked separately by CBS.
Source [1]Brake fluid
Every 24 months
24 months
Time-based replacement, whatever the mileage.
Source [1]Questions about this version (2)
Which engine is in the BMW X3 xDrive20i E83?
The N46B20 petrol engine (1 995 cc), 150 hp (110 kW).
AutoKarnet advice
Which oil for the BMW X3 xDrive20i?
A BMW Longlife-approved oil suited to the N46B20 engine. The “Engine” block on this page and the vehicle’s handbook give the exact approval.
AutoKarnet advice
Documentary sources
- [1] Rédaction AutoKarnet
AutoKarnet · FR · Europe · Synthèse éditoriale AutoKarnet · Accessed 09/10/2026
- [2] BMW TIS — BMW Quality Longlife-04
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · SI 11 03 04 (156) · revision 09/2005 · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [3] BMW TIS — Oil Supply N46
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · TD 11 40 · oil change including filter · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [4] BMW TIS — 1 Series E87, vehicle and engine index
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · Vehicle list (model / engine / body) · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [5] 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
- [6] BMW Technical training — Product information: N13 Engine
BMW AG — Technical training (online copy) · EN · Europe · §1.1 Models (F20 116i/118i, 09/2011) · §2.3 Camshaft drive · §3.4.2 Oil level monitoring · §3.5.2 Timing chain lubrication · Accessed 08/10/2026
- [7] BMW TIS — E90/E91 model and engine index
BMW AG (TIS, archive) · EN · Europe · 3 Series E90 and E91: N46, N52, N53, N54, M47T2, M57T2 and N47 · Accessed 08/10/2026