The BMW N26 engine, found only in North American versions of the previous-generation 2 Series, 3 Series, and 4 Series is reasonably reliable with proper maintenance. It isn’t bulletproof, though, and Eric from the YouTube channel I Do Cars got his hands on a dead motor to see the damage that killed the engine.
For the uninitiated, the N26 is the greener version of the N20 inline-four, made in compliance with the SULEV legislation. The N20 was succeeded by the B48, a turbocharged four-pot mill fitted in smaller BMWs, Minis, and the Toyota GR Supra.
Eric always starts his teardown projects by turning the crank to see whether it is locked up. The N26 engine did turn, giving him a good start, but there were a few worrying signs of neglect. Some of the nuts were missing, and the valve cover was damaged, exposing the timing chain.