Many engines in the BMW 3 Series have a timing chain instead of a timing belt. These usually never need to be replaced. On this page you will find a list of BMW 3 Series engines that have a cam chain.
You will also find information about which engines that have a timing belt.
I have collected information about various popular diesel engines and petrol engines from 1990 to 2020.
The timing chains in BMW 3 Series are known to last very well as long as service and oil changes are handled.
If you hear a rattling sound from a motor with a timing chain, it may be a sign that the chain needs to be replaced.
Consult a mechanic if you hear a strange engine noise, especially if it is a rattling sound.
This can occur if, for example, the car has not been serviced properly.
If you are considering buying a used BMW 3 Series, make sure that the oil changes are made according to the car’s interval.
Table of Contents
BMW 3 Series engines with a timing chain
Here you will find different engines in BMW 3 Series that have a timing chain. I have divided the information into different tables according to each generation and model year.
BMW E36 1990 – 1993
Here you will find information about different engines between the years 1990 and 1993.
| Model | Horsepower | Synchronization |
| BMW 316i E36 1990 – 1993 | 99 hp | Timing belt |
| BMW 318i E36 1990 – 1993 | 113 hp | Timing belt |
| BMW 318is E36 1990 – 1993 | 140 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i E36 1990 – 1993 | 150 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325i E36 1990 – 1993 | 192 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW M3 E36 1990 – 1993 | 286 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325td E36 1990 – 1993 | 115 hp | Timing chain |
BMW E36 1994 – 2001
Here you will find information about different engines between the years 1994 and 2001.
| Model | Horsepower | Synchronization |
| BMW 316i E36 1994 – 2001 | 102 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 316i E36 1994 – 2001 | 105 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318i E36 1994 – 2001 | 115 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318ti E36 1994 – 2001 | 140 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318ti E36 1994 – 2001 | 140 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i E36 1994 – 2001 | 150 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i E36 1994 – 2001 | 150 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 323i E36 1994 – 2001 | 170 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325i E36 1994 – 2001 | 192 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 328i E36 1994 – 2001 | 193 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW M3 E36 1994 – 2001 | 243 hp | ? |
| BMW M3 E36 1994 – 2001 | 243 hp | ? |
| BMW M3 E36 1994 – 2001 | 286 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW M3 GT E36 1994 – 2001 | 295 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW M3 E36 1994 – 2001 | 321 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318tds E36 1994 – 2001 | 90 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325td E36 1994 – 2001 | 115 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325tds E36 1994 – 2001 | 143 hp | Timing chain |
BMW E46 1998 – 2005
Here you will find information about different engines between the years 1998 and 2005.
| Model | Horsepower | Synchronization |
| BMW 316i E46 1998 – 2005 | 105 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 316i E46 1998 – 2005 | 116 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 316ti E46 1998 – 2005 | 116 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318i E46 1998 – 2005 | 118 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318ti E46 1998 – 2005 | 143 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i E46 1998 – 2005 | 150 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i E46 1998 – 2005 | 170 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 323i E46 1998 – 2005 | 170 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325i E46 1998 – 2005 | 192 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325xi E46 1998 – 2005 | 192 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 328i E46 1998 – 2005 | 193 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330i E46 1998 – 2005 | 231 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330xi E46 1998 – 2005 | 231 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW M3 E46 1998 – 2005 | 343 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318td E46 1998 – 2005 | 116 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d E46 1998 – 2005 | 136 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320td E46 1998 – 2005 | 150 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330d E46 1998 – 2005 | 184 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330xd E46 1998 – 2005 | 184 hp | Timing chain |
BMW E46 2002 – 2007
Here you will find information about different engines between the years 2002 and 2007.
| Model | Horsepower | Synchronization |
| BMW 316i E46 2002 – 2007 | 105 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 316i E46 2002 – 2007 | 116 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 316ti E46 2002 – 2007 | 116 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318i E46 2002 – 2007 | 143 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318Ci E46 2002 – 2007 | 150 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i E46 2002 – 2007 | 170 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325i E46 2002 – 2007 | 180 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325ti E46 2002 – 2007 | 192 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325xi E46 2002 – 2007 | 192 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330i E46 2002 – 2007 | 231 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330xi E46 2002 – 2007 | 231 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW M3 E46 2002 – 2007 | 343 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318d E46 2002 – 2007 | 116 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320td E46 2002 – 2007 | 150 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330d E46 2002 – 2007 | 184 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330xd E46 2002 – 2007 | 184 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330d E46 2002 – 2007 | 204 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330xd E46 2002 – 2007 | 204 hp | Timing chain |
BMW E90 2005 – 2010
Here you will find information about different engines between the years 2005 and 2010.
| Model | Horsepower | Synchronization |
| BMW 318i E90 2005 – 2010 | 129 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318i E90 2005 – 2010 | 143 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i E90 2005 – 2010 | 150 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i E90 2005 – 2010 | 170 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320si E90 2005 – 2010 | 173 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325i E90 2005 – 2010 | 218 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325xi E90 2005 – 2010 | 218 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325i E90 2005 – 2010 | 218 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325i xDrive E90 2005 – 2010 | 218 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 328i E90 2005 – 2010 | 233 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330i E90 2005 – 2010 | 258 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330xi E90 2005 – 2010 | 258 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330i E90 2005 – 2010 | 272 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 335i E90 2005 – 2010 | 306 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW M3 E90 2005 – 2010 | 420 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318d E90 2005 – 2010 | 122 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318d E90 2005 – 2010 | 143 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d E90 2005 – 2010 | 163 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d E90 2005 – 2010 | 177 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325d E90 2005 – 2010 | 197 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330d E90 2005 – 2010 | 231 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330xd E90 2005 – 2010 | 231 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 335d E90 2005 – 2010 | 286 hp | Timing chain |
BMW E90 2009 – 2013
Here you will find information about different engines between the years 2009 and 2013.
| Model | Horsepower | Synchronization |
| BMW 316i E90 2009 – 2013 | 122 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318i E90 2009 – 2013 | 143 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i E90 2009 – 2013 | 170 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325i E90 2009 – 2013 | 218 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325i xDrive E90 2009 – 2013 | 218 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330i E90 2009 – 2013 | 272 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330i xDrive E90 2009 – 2013 | 272 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 335i E90 2009 – 2013 | 306 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 335i xDrive E90 2009 – 2013 | 306 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 335i E90 2009 – 2013 | 306 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 335i xDrive E90 2009 – 2013 | 306 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW M3 E90 2009 – 2013 | 420 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 316d E90 2009 – 2013 | 116 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318d E90 2009 – 2013 | 143 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition E90 2009 – 2013 | 163 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d E90 2009 – 2013 | 177 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d xDrive E90 2009 – 2013 | 177 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d E90 2009 – 2013 | 184 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d xDrive E90 2009 – 2013 | 184 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325d E90 2009 – 2013 | 197 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 325d E90 2009 – 2013 | 204 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330d E90 2009 – 2013 | 245 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330d xDrive E90 2009 – 2013 | 245 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 335d E90 2009 – 2013 | 286 hp | Timing chain |
BMW F30 2012 – 2016
Here you will find information about different engines between the years 2012 and 2016.
| Model | Horsepower | Synchronization |
| BMW 316i F30 2012 – 2016 | 136 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i F30 2012 – 2016 | 184 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i xDrive F30 2012 – 2016 | 184 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 328i F30 2012 – 2016 | 245 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 328i xDrive F30 2012 – 2016 | 245 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 335i F30 2012 – 2016 | 306 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 335i xDrive F30 2012 – 2016 | 306 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW M3 F30 2012 – 2016 | 431 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 316d F30 2012 – 2016 | 116 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318d F30 2012 – 2016 | 143 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318d xDrive F30 2012 – 2016 | 143 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318d F30 2012 – 2016 | 150 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d F30 2012 – 2016 | 163 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d F30 2012 – 2016 | 184 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d xDrive F30 2012 – 2016 | 184 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d F30 2012 – 2016 | 190 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d xDrive F30 2012 – 2016 | 190 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d M Performance F30 2012 – 2016 | 200 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d xDrive M Performance F30 2012 – 2016 | 200 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330d F30 2012 – 2016 | 258 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330d xDrive F30 2012 – 2016 | 258 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 335d xDrive F30 2012 – 2016 | 313 hp | Timing chain |
BMW F30 2015 – 2020
Here you will find information about different engines between the years 2015 and 2020.
| Model | Horsepower | Synchronization |
| BMW 318i F30 2015 – 2020 | 136 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i F30 2015 – 2020 | 184 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320i xDrive F30 2015 – 2020 | 184 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330i F30 2015 – 2020 | 252 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330i xDrive F30 2015 – 2020 | 252 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 340i F30 2015 – 2020 | 326 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 340i xDrive F30 2015 – 2020 | 326 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW M3 F30 2015 – 2020 | 431 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW M3 Competition F30 2015 – 2020 | 450 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318d F30 2015 – 2020 | 150 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 318d xDrive F30 2015 – 2020 | 150 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition F30 2015 – 2020 | 163 hp | ? |
| BMW 320d F30 2015 – 2020 | 190 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 320d xDrive F30 2015 – 2020 | 190 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330d F30 2015 – 2020 | 258 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330d xDrive F30 2015 – 2020 | 258 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 335d xDrive F30 2015 – 2020 | 313 hp | Timing chain |
| BMW 330e F30 2015 – 2020 | 252 hp | Timing chain |