BMW 318i (F30)
BMW 3 series 2015 1.5 petrol description
Sedan BMW 318i has been produced from January, 2015 to January, 2018. It has three-cylinder petrol engine with displacement of 1.5 litres, which produces power of 136 horsepower on 6000 rpm and torque 220 Nm (Newton metres) on 1250 revolutions per minute.
This 3-cylinder 12-valve engine camshaft is driven by chain (What is an engine chain and belt? ). Engine has fuel injection system and Continental turbine. The engine meets the Euro 6 emissions standard. Engine lifespan (mileage before major repairs or overhaul) can last from 220 up to 370 thousand kilometres. It is important to remember that engine life is highly dependent on regular maintenance and the quality of the oils and fuels used.
More engine specs
The B38 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, introduced in 2013, was designed with a focus on fuel efficiency and low emissions to meet modern environmental standards. ...
BMW 318i has classical rear wheel drive (RWD) and automatic gearbox with 8 gears.
BMW 318i accelerates to speed 100 kilometres per hour in 9.1 seconds. The maximum speed of this car is 210 km/h.
BMW 318i fuel consumption is 5.4 litres per 100km in combined city/highway mode (18.5 km/l), city fuel economy - 6.7 l/100km, fuel consumption on highway - 4.6 l/100km. Fuel tank capacity is 60 litres or 15.85 gallons, which gives a mileage up to 1100 kilometers without refueling in urban cycle and even up to 1300 kilometers on highway.
According to user reviews, this BMW real everyday fuel consumption is 7.5 litres per 100 km, which is 39% more than the manufacturer's stated. More - Real BMW 3 series fuel consumption.
BMW 318i technical data
| Model: | BMW 318i | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Body style: | Sedan | ||
| Production period: | 2015. January ... 2018. January | ||
| Engine: | 1499 cm3 Petrol, 3 cylinders | CO2 emissions: | no data |
| Power: | 136 HP ON 6000 RPM | Torque: | 220 NM ON 1250 RPM |
| Gearbox: | Automatic gearbox (8 gears) | Drive type: | Rear wheel drive (RWD) |
| Top speed: | 210 km/h | Acceleration 0-100 km/h: | 9.1 seconds |
| Fuel consumption (l/100km): | 5.4 (combined) 6.7 (urban) 4.6 (highway) | ||
| Real fuel consumption: | 7.5 l/100km (31.4 MPG) by user reviews from various sources | ||
| Fuel tank capacity: | 60 litres (15.9 gallons) | ||
| Car dimensions: | 4.63m (length) 1.81m (width) 1.43m (height) | ||
| Turning diameter: | 11.3 meters | ||
| Ground clearance: | 140 mm (approximate, with standard suspension, unladen vehicle) | ||
| Trunk capacity: | 480 litres | ||
| Gross weight: | 2000 kg | ||
BMW 318i engine B38
Engine reliability and common problems:
The B38 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, introduced in 2013, was designed with a focus on fuel efficiency and low emissions to meet modern environmental standards. While it received generally positive feedback, it isn’t without issues.Common problems include rapid wear of the timing chain, injection system malfunctions, and occasional short circuits in the wiring harness. Overheating has also been reported, and in some cases, it leads to serious engine damage. BMW has addressed many of these issues in later production versions, improving reliability over time.
A known structural weakness is the turbine housing, which is made of aluminum and integrated with the exhaust manifold. Subject to high thermal loads, it can develop cracks that result in coolant leaks.
As with most direct injection engines, carbon buildup on intake valves is a typical issue. This leads to rough idle and unstable performance, often described as “fluctuating revs.”
Other weak points include the relatively short-lived catalytic converter and the EVAP purge valve. At higher mileage, failures in the VANOS and Valvetronic systems also become more common.
Despite its compact size and three-cylinder layout, the B38 responds well to chip tuning. With a proper remap, output can be increased from the stock 136 hp to over 170 hp, and torque from 220 Nm to more than 280 Nm, significantly enhancing the car’s performance.
Overall, this engine can last around 220,000 to 370,000 km if properly maintained, using the correct quality oil and fuel, and carrying out regular checks and maintenance.
The engine has hydraulic valve tappets (lifters), which provide quieter operation and do not require periodic adjustment, but are more complex in design and can cause serious engine damage in the event of failure.
| Engine displacement | 1499 cm3 |
|---|---|
| Number of cylinders | 3 |
| Bore (cylinder diameter) | 82 mm |
| Stroke length (piston move) | 94.6 mm |
| Compression ratio | 11 : 1 |
| Camshaft drive | Timing chain Chain motors are considered more reliable, chain replacement usually is required less often than a timing belt, but they are often louder and vibrate more. |
| Fuel system | Injection |
| BMW 318i oil type | no data |
| Oil capacity | no data |
| Coolant capacity | 7.7 litres (8.1 quarts) |
| Power | 102 - 140 HP ON 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 180 - 220 NM ON 1250 RPM |
| Start of production (year) | 2013 |
| Duration of production | 12 years |
Often in the first years of production, engines tend to have various constructive problems, so it is recommended to choose a car with this engine from 2016 onwards. |
|
| Engine also used on | BMW 1 sērija BMW X1 BMW 2 sērija BMW 4 sērija and 2 other models |
Generally, the use of an engine in several models and its long production run is an indication of the quality of the engine and the success of its design. |
Most often compared to
All BMW 3 series sedan [2015 - 2018] modifications
| Modification | Engine | Power | Consumption | Gearbox | Drive type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
BMW 318i
Jan 2015 — Jan 2018 Most fuel efficient petrol version by real consumption |
1.5 Petrol | 136 HP | 5.5 l/100km | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
|
BMW 318i
Jan 2015 — Jan 2018 Most fuel efficient petrol version |
1.5 Petrol | 136 HP | 5.4 l/100km | Automatic (8) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 320i Jan 2015 — Jan 2018 | 2.0 Petrol | 184 HP | 5.9 l/100km | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 320i Jan 2015 — Jan 2018 | 2.0 Petrol | 184 HP | 5.8 l/100km | Automatic (8) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 320i 4x4 | 2.0 Petrol | 184 HP | - | Manual (6) | All wheel |
| BMW 320i xDrive 4x4 Jan 2015 — Jan 2018 | 2.0 Petrol | 184 HP | 5.8 l/100km | Automatic (8) | All wheel |
| BMW 330i xDrive 4x4 Jan 2015 — Jan 2018 | 2.0 Petrol | 249 HP | 6.2 l/100km | Automatic (8) | All wheel |
| BMW 330i | 2.0 Petrol | 252 HP | - | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 330i | 2.0 Petrol | 252 HP | - | Automatic (8) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 316d | 2.0 Diesel | 116 HP | - | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 316d | 2.0 Diesel | 116 HP | - | Automatic (8) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 318d | 2.0 Diesel | 150 HP | - | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 318d | 2.0 Diesel | 150 HP | - | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 318d 4x4 | 2.0 Diesel | 150 HP | - | Manual (6) | All wheel |
|
BMW 320d
Most fuel efficient diesel version by real consumption |
2.0 Diesel | 163 HP | - | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
|
BMW 320d
Most fuel efficient diesel version by real consumption |
2.0 Diesel | 163 HP | - | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 320d | 2.0 Diesel | 190 HP | - | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 320d | 2.0 Diesel | 190 HP | - | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
|
BMW 320d
Jan 2015 — Jan 2018 Most fuel efficient diesel version |
2.0 Diesel | 190 HP | 4.4 l/100km | Automatic (8) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 320d 4x4 | 2.0 Diesel | 190 HP | - | Manual (6) | All wheel |
| BMW 320d xDrive 4x4 Jan 2015 — Jan 2018 | 2.0 Diesel | 190 HP | 4.7 l/100km | Automatic (8) | All wheel |
| BMW 325d Jan 2015 — Dec 2016 | 2.0 Diesel | 218 HP | - | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 325d Jan 2015 — Dec 2016 | 2.0 Diesel | 218 HP | - | Automatic (8) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 325d Jan 2016 — Dec 2018 | 2.0 Diesel | 224 HP | - | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 325d Jan 2016 — Dec 2018 | 2.0 Diesel | 224 HP | - | Automatic (8) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 340i | 3.0 Petrol | 326 HP | - | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 340i | 3.0 Petrol | 326 HP | - | Manual (6) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 340i 4x4 | 3.0 Petrol | 326 HP | - | Manual (6) | All wheel |
| BMW 340i xDrive 4x4 Jan 2015 — Jan 2018 | 3.0 Petrol | 326 HP | 7.3 l/100km | Automatic (8) | All wheel |
| BMW 330d | 3.0 Diesel | 258 HP | - | Automatic (8) | Rear wheel |
| BMW 330d 4x4 | 3.0 Diesel | 258 HP | - | Automatic (8) | All wheel |
|
BMW 335d 4x4
Most dynamic version - 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds |
3.0 Diesel | 313 HP | - | Automatic (8) | All wheel |