VERDICT · SAME N20 ENGINE, A GENUINE ENTHUSIAST FAVOURITE CHASSIS

BMW 228i 228i
is it a safe used buy?

BMW's compact rear-wheel-drive coupe, paired with the same N20 turbo four covered in detail on the F30 3 Series pages — widely regarded by enthusiasts as one of the best-balanced modern BMW chassis.

GENERATIONF22 (2014–2016)

ENGINE228i

POWER240 hp

USED PRICE$13,000–20,500

How the engine fits this car

The identical timing chain tensioner consideration from the engine page applies here, with no chassis-specific change to that risk.

BMW 228i-specific pros and cons

This is about the car itself — for engine-specific failure points, see the dedicated engine page below.

WHAT HOLDS UP WELL

Identical N20 reliability profile to the well-documented F30 3 Series
Widely regarded by enthusiasts as an exceptionally well-balanced chassis
Manual gearbox availability adds genuine driving engagement
ZF 8HP automatic, where fitted, is one of the more dependable modern transmissions

WHAT TO WATCH

Timing chain tensioner wear, covered on the engine page, is the most consistently reported mechanical concern
Oil consumption affects a meaningful minority of examples
Rear seat space is limited, typical of the compact coupe body style
Run-flat tyres, where fitted, are costly to replace

Pricing on the used market

Mileage band

Typical price

What to expect

Under 50,000 mi

$17,000–20,500

Lower-mileage, well-kept examples

50,000–90,000 mi

$14,500–17,000

Sweet spot, confirm chain and oil consumption history

90,000+ mi

$13,000–14,500

Budget for a chain inspection if not already done

The engine itself

This 228i shares its N20 engine with BMW's contemporary F30 3 Series. Full detail lives on the dedicated engine page.

FULL ENGINE BREAKDOWNBMW N20 Turbo Four — Reliable or Not →

Pre-purchase checklist for this generation

Listen for a rattle on cold start that persists for more than a second or two.

Check oil level yourself if possible.

Check clutch engagement and shift quality on manual examples.