N18 vs N13

So just how different is the new BMW N13 from the MINI N18 engine?

The N13 powers the new F20 1 Series and is likely to power upcoming BMWs as well.
The N18 powers the MINI Cooper.

Both are built at BMW Hams Hall. Both are based on the BMW / PSA Peugeot Citroën joint venture "Prince" engine.


For fun, I pulled up the ETK for a 10/2011 MINI Cooper S and a 10/2011 F20 116i. From the diagrams the most obvious difference is the way the engine faces. The diagrams all have the front of the car in the same direction. The RWD F20 has a longitudinally mounted engine. There are some differences but we are looking at the same basic engines, but from a different side.

The exhaust ports look different on the long block but not on the head. On of the illustrations is not correct. The oil filer housing is rotated. They had to do that to keep the oil filer out of the firewall. Of course things we don't see like valve sizes, combustion chambers and so on could be different.

The larger visual differences are in the diagrams I haven't uploaded. The turbo charger is different. Exhaust, intake, sound and vibration dampening parts are different.

Here are the diagrams.


N13B16 from a 116i




N18 from a MINI Cooper S (MCS)




MCS Block



116i Block


MINI Head


BMW Head