'16 328xi N20 in 13 528xi

[schmidtdb]

Hello all, first post. Have been searching around and can not figure out how to find what I am looking for.

We recently had an engine failure in our 2013 528 x-drive. We bought a complete engine out of a 16 328 xdrive, and it bolted right in, only having to re route a couple harnesses.

The only issue is the front drive shaft seems a little short, which leads me to think the front differentials may be different either in some non-obvious dimension or the mounting holes.

Does anyone know if the differential is different on the two cars? both n20 x-drive engines.

The engines seem the same, but perhaps I am missing something.

Thank you in advance for any input!!!!

Dave

[bmwdirtracer]

I've just done some research at realoem.com for you.

According to the information you gave:

A 2013 528iX has an N20 engine.
The front differential is part number ending in 520, and has a ratio of 3.23 to 1
The oil pan has a part number ending in 638


A 2016 328iX has an N26 engine.
It has an oil pan part number ending 942
It has a 3.15 to 1 ratio differential, part number ending 898 or 899.


It certainly seems to me that you've bought entirely the wrong assembly for your car.

[schmidtdb]

Thank you Chris. yes, it's looking that way. its going to come back out to swap the pan and diff.

Hopefully that will get it going.

[jclausen]

Better to check all all the info out be fore moving forward

[schmidtdb]

Good Advice, will just have to muddle through it as I can not really find any references comparing the differences of the 2 N20 engines. It is going to be a mess for sure.

If anyone that sees this does have a list of the differences of the N20 in the 3x-drive and the one in the 5x-drive, please post.

I will be posting what we find after the job.

Thank you all again.

[shadowpuck]

i'd probably want to look at wiring diagrams and make sure something didn't change. just because the connectors match up doesn't mean wires are in the same place, 5v refs on same pins, etc....

[bmwdirtracer]

I do not believe that an N26 is going to be happy connected to an N20 computer. While I do not know the differences, BMW doesn't generally rename engines without major changes.

Which engine's turbo are you planning to use?

Besides one engine being a SULEV, I see that the N26 has an electronic wastegate.

[schmidtdb]

Fortunately Both engines are N20B20A - working on going over them part by part now and will follow up.

Thank you all for your help!.

[bmwdirtracer]

I'm not saying that realoem.com is always right, but I do not see an N20 being available in 2016 in a 328iX:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sel...&prod=20150900

IF it's actually an N20, I don't see a reason for the fitment issues you have found.

[schmidtdb]

Well, the engine I bought was an N20B20A out of a California 2016 328xi, 15k miles. The engine in the 13 528 was also a N20B20A as marked on the front of both blocks.

The car it went in, which is NOW running and driving, is a 2013 528xi.

To make it work I had to move the following from the old 528 engine to the new 328 version:

Installed 528 Oil Pan
Installed 528 Front Differential
Installed 528 vacuum waste gate instead of the electronic waste gate on 328 engine.
Installed 528 vacuum pump, as it has an extra port for the wastegate.
Installed 528 engine harness.
Installed 528 Engine Mounts.
and of course used the original 528 ECU

Car started right up, no codes, all operations normal, runs great!

Entire project $3165.62 + plus my labor and frustration.

Thank you all for your help, I hope this thread assists someone in the future.

Will be parting out old engine and the 328 n20 parts I did not use.

Dave