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      06-27-2022, 03:21 AM   #12
B21
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Drives: E89 Atacama Yellow 35is
Join Date: May 2022
Location: Scotland..God’s own country

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The N20 engine used in the 28i has one Achilles heel, pre 2015 had a poorer quality cam chain and associated plastic tensioner..

A percentage of cars typically between 50k and 80k will suffer from failure for this part…

It can be replaced preemptively with the later better quality cam chain sub system..cars with lots of use of the stop start and extended oil changes seem to be causal factors..

Apart from that they are good motors..technically being both shorter and lighter they sit behind the front axle making the handling sweeter than the older 6 pot engines.

Pep wise, especially with a simple ECU map they are a much more capable engine with more and broader torque and if married to the 8 speed auto a fine combination.

Unless you want the ultimate in straight line acceleration with a 35is or ‘need’ to hear 6 pots firing they are a better car than the earlier 6 pots.

For sure the N52 engine is a great engine and has shown great reliability.

I miss my N20 version, it offered a lot of fine handling and good performance for a fraction of the running costs of a 35i/35is.
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Much modified 2011 Atacama Yellow 35is…previously a much modified 2012 Atacama Yellow 20i MSport
Change history here… https://www.dropbox.com/s/8h1vabklgz...0List.pdf?dl=0
Build thread here… https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=131886
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