BMW 3 Series: N20 2.0T oil filter housing gasket leak (320i/328i)
N20 2.0T oil filter housing gasket leak (320i/328i) is a common fluid leaks fault on the BMW 3 Series on the 2012–2016 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $450 to $1,100 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 88 documented faults on the BMW 3 Series.
- Vehicle
- BMW 3 Series
- Engine
- N20
- Years
- 2012–2016
- Fuel
- petrol
- System
- Fluid Leaks
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The 2.0 litre N20 turbo four-cylinder in the F30/F31 3 Series 320i and 328i seals its plastic oil filter housing (which also carries the oil cooler connections) to the block with rubber gaskets that harden and shrink with heat over the years. Once they shrink, oil seeps down the side of the engine and the leak gets steadily worse; specialists rate it one of the most common oil leaks on this engine. Left alone it drops the oil level and soaks surrounding parts in oil, and the repair means removing the engine computer and part of the intake to reach the housing bolts. There is no recall or extended warranty for this leak.
What you would notice
- Burning oil smell after a drive
- Oily film or caked grime on the side of the engine below the oil filter cap
- Oil drips under the front of the car
- Oil level dropping between services
How to check it
Where to look. Engine bay, the oil filter housing on the side of the engine block under the intake
With the bonnet up and a phone torch, look down the side of the engine below the oil filter housing (the black cap on top of the oil filter) for wet, dark oil or caked grime.
Check the ground under the front of the car where it has been parked.
Smell for burning oil after the test drive.
Ask whether the oil filter housing gasket has been replaced and for the invoice.
If a workshop inspection is possible: put the car on a hoist and check the underside of the engine and the undertray for oil tracking down from the housing.
What it costs to put right
$450 to $1,100 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Has the oil filter housing gasket been replaced, and do you have the invoice?”
- “Does it need topping up with oil between services?”
- “Has a workshop ever mentioned an oil leak?”
Now check the BMW 3 Series you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
BMW 3 Series buyer questions
Is n20 2.0t oil filter housing gasket leak (320i/328i) serious on a BMW 3 Series?
We rate it major and common on the BMW 3 Series. The 2.0 litre N20 turbo four-cylinder in the F30/F31 3 Series 320i and 328i seals its plastic oil filter housing (which also carries the oil cooler connections) to the block with rubber gaskets that harden and shrink with heat over the years. Once they shrink, oil seeps down the side of the engine and the leak gets steadily worse; specialists rate it one of the most common oil leaks on this engine. Left alone it drops the oil level and soaks surrounding parts in oil, and the repair means removing the engine computer and part of the intake to reach the housing bolts. There is no recall or extended warranty for this leak.
How much does it cost to fix on a BMW 3 Series?
$450 to $1,100 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which BMW 3 Series years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2012–2016 BMW 3 Series. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
With the bonnet up and a phone torch, look down the side of the engine below the oil filter housing (the black cap on top of the oil filter) for wet, dark oil or caked grime. Check the ground under the front of the car where it has been parked. Smell for burning oil after the test drive. Ask whether the oil filter housing gasket has been replaced and for the invoice. If a workshop inspection is possible: put the car on a hoist and check the underside of the engine and the undertray for oil tracking down from the housing. Look here: Engine bay, the oil filter housing on the side of the engine block under the intake