Second Hand BMW 3 Series Turbo

No — the E90 (2005–2012, facelifted 2008) and F30 (2012–2019, facelifted 2015) are completely different generations with different engines, so their turbos are not interchangeable. The engine code is the key detail here: even if two cars share a badge like '320d', the actual engine fitted can differ between generations. Always confirm the engine code from your V5 or a VIN check before ordering, and tell the breaker which generation you have.

The F30 ran from 2012 to 2019 with a facelift in 2015, and many engine codes carried across that boundary — but some units did see specification changes mid-production that can affect whether a turbo from one side of the facelift works on the other. Confirm the engine code from your V5 and give it to the breaker so they can match it against the donor vehicle rather than relying on year alone. Never assume fitment across the 2015 facelift cut-off without the breaker verifying against your specific registration.

The '320d' badge has been applied to several different engine codes across the E46, E90, and F30 generations, so the badge alone tells you very little about which turbo you need. What matters is the actual engine code stamped on your engine or listed on your V5 — match that code to the donor car and tell the breaker when ordering. A 320d from 2008 and a 320d from 2016 are likely to need completely different turbos despite sharing the same name.

For the vast majority of 3 Series turbos, trim level — whether SE, Sport, or M Sport — makes no difference to fitment because they share the same engine within each model grade. The M Sport is a styling and suspension package rather than a different engine, so the turbo requirement follows the engine code, not the badge on the boot. The exception is a genuinely different performance variant like the M3 or M135i, which carries its own distinct engine and turbo — confirm your engine code and let the breaker know which variant you have.

No — petrol and diesel turbos are not interchangeable; they are engineered differently and mount to completely different engines. Always confirm your fuel type alongside the engine code when contacting a breaker, as it is one of the most fundamental matching points for this part. Fitting the wrong turbo type is not possible without extensive modifications and is not something a straight used-parts swap will achieve.

In most cases the gearbox type does not directly change the turbo specification, as the turbo is matched to the engine rather than the transmission. However, some engine and gearbox combinations were only available together in certain markets or build slots, which can occasionally affect what the breaker has available from a matching donor car. Give the breaker your full engine code, fuel type, and gearbox type so they can confirm the donor vehicle is a close-enough match to your car.