Direct fuel injection has become the standard injection system in the last decade. The N20/26 engine's in the BMW F30, F31, and F32 four-cylinder models use this injection system, giving them...
The sport sedan started with BMW, and their F30 3-series continued in that legacy. While not shy on power, the real excellence comes from its chassis and suspension, and just like everything else, the suspension needs to be maintained. When bushings and joints wear out, tolerances weaken, and the...
The only thing more iconic than the BMW roundel is the signature kidney grills on the front of every BMW. Whether it's the 507, M1, or new M4, we've come to expect every BMW to have those grills in some form. The BMW F30 generation 3-series is no different, as BMW offers a few different styles of...
Every engine needs fuel, air, and spark to run. The BMW's N20/26 engines have a spark plug and ignition coil for each cylinder. Failing plugs or coils will produce a weakened spark at best, resulting in poor ignition of the fuel/air mixture in the cylinder. Without the spark, the engine will make...
Twenty years ago, BMWs, especially the high performance, had a penchant for eating the connecting rod and main bearings. The N20 engine available in the BMW F30 features newer technology for more performance and better efficiency over the old engines, but quietly, still have issues with...
If your oil filter housing is leaking on your N51, N52, N54, or N55 BMW engine, you need to take care of it as soon as possible. If it's left unattended, it is known to result in catastrophic failure. Rather than costly repairs, use this guide to save yourself immeasurable amounts of headache and...
Maybe you just rebuilt your BMW E36 engine's bottom end, or you're looking to do some basic engine work. If you touch the timing at any level, you will need to reset the engine's timing. In this article, I talk about how to time a single VANOS M50TU, M52, S50 or S52 BMW engine. Some of these will...
Camshaft installation on BMW M50/S50 and M52/S52 engines (and the M52TU/M54/M56) engines have people afraid due to the length of the camshaft and the possibility of snapping one during removal or installation. However, there's no reason to worry; I'll show you how to do this safely and without...
A properly functioning wheel bearing is critical to any car, not just the BMW F30. The wheel bearing handles the rotational force of each wheel. Whenever a vehicle is modified, whether it be a lowered suspension or more power, there will be an effect on the wheel bearing's life. As the F30...
The BMW light control module, commonly known as the LCM, lamp control module, or light check module, is an extremely common part that fails on the BMW E38 and E39. What is it, how does it work, and why does it fail? Once upon a time, a light switch in a car simply completed a circuit between the...