Have a look at some videos showing the assembly and internals/technology of the N20 engine.

The BMW N20 is a turbocharged inline 4 cylinder DOHC engine which replaced the N52 and BMW N53 inline 6 cylinder engines beginning in 2011. The N20 is an inline 4, but is considered a replacement for the straight-6 N52 and N53 because it powers equivalent models. It features a twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing (VANOS), variable valve lift (valvetronic) and direct injection.

The N20 is currently used in:

E89 Z4 sDrive28i
E84 X1 xDrive28i
F25 X3 xDrive28i
F20 128i
F30 328i
F10 528i

Mini documentary on BMW’s newest turbo engine - the N20 turbo inline 4 cylinder engine which powers everything from the F30 328i to the F10 528i, X1 sDrive28i and xDrive28i.

Hartge has officially released its software ECU piggyback tune for the BMW 4-cylinder turbo N20 engine. It yields impressive power gains of +45 horsepowers and +45 ft-lb torque! The tune can be applied to the F30 328i, F10 528i, F25 X3 xDrive28i, and E89 Z4 sDrive28i. Check out a video of the tune in action inside.

The Hartge ‘Engine Conversion’ is a bespoke tuning module that plugs in ahead of the engine computer on the wiring harness. It has factory-style plugs to connect in-line with the water temp sensor, fuel rail pressure, turbo boost pressure sensors, turbo wastegate valve, intake camshaft sensor, 12V power and ground. The module then sends a modified signal to the engine computer allowing it to increase boost … CONTINUED

Evolution Racewerks didn’t take much time to tear into their F30 328i’s N20 engine, removing the engine cover and revealing some of the plumbing underneath. Check out the photos inside.

Ward’s Auto has published its annual 10 Best Engines List and as always, some BMW engines make the list. Here are the award winning engines for 2012:

2.0L N20 Turbocharged DOHC I4 (F30 328i / Z4 sDrive28i / 528i / X1)
3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I6 (F30 335i / E92 335i / 535i / 135i)
3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V6 (Audi A6)
3.6L Pentastar DOHC V6 (Chrysler 300/Jeep Wrangler)
2.0L EcoBoost DOHC I4 (Ford Edge)
5.0L DOHC V8 (Ford Mustang Boss 302)
2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I4 (Buick Regal GS)
1.6L DOHC I4 (Hyundai Accent/Kia Soul)
2.0L Skyactiv DOHC I4 (Mazda3)
3.5L DOHC V6 HEV (Infiniti M35h)

Congrats to BMW! The N20 has received great acclaim and reviews, especially in the F30 328i reviews.

And the N55 … CONTINUED

Reviews of the 2012 Z4 sDrive28i featuring the new BMW turbo 4-cylinder N20 motor have generally been positive overall. However, Automobile’s recent assessment is the strongest endorsement we’ve seen yet for the new Z4, which represents the return of 4-cylinder BMW engines to the US.

Here are some of the great things the magazine had to say about the sDriv28i’s engine, exhaust, and performance.

Autoblog comes in with their first drive reaction to the 2012 Z4 sDrive28i, the first late model BMW to bring the 4-cylinder motor back to the US market. The N20 motor makes 240 hp / 260 lb-ft tq in the Z4, with a 7,000 rpm redline. Compared to the N52 inline 6 that it replaces, the Z4’s N20 has 15 less horsepowers but 40lb-ft more torque.

The N20 will also be making its debut in the 5-series line in the Fall with the 2012 528i, and in the 3-series with the all new F30 3-series sedan which will be unveiled this Fall.

Until now, the reviews of BMW’s Twinpower Turbo 2.0L inline 4-cylinder Motor (N20) were limited to drives of the X1 xDrive28i. But this Fall, BMW will launch the first US models to feature the N20 turbo 4-cyl motor — the 2012 Z4 sDrive28i and the 2012 528i. In the Z4 28i, the N20 motor makes 240 hp at 6500 rpm and 260 lb-ft tq at just 1,250 rpm, with a redline of 7,000 rpm. Compared to the N52 inline 6 that it replaces, the Z4’s N20 has 15 less horsepowers but 40lb-ft more torque.

So how does the Z4 28i drive? The first review is in, via Car and Driver. Some of C/D’s more salient words regarding the Z4 28i follow.

Quote:
The transplant has changed the … CONTINUED