Carsieve All versions
Show all 15 variants
At a glance
- Years: 2011 to 2019. The 2015 facelift brought the B38 and B48 petrol engines and the B37 and B47 diesels.
- Reliability: 3/5. Timing chains on the N13 and N20 engines and the electric steering pull the score down. Later B48 and B47 cars do better.
- DIY: 2/5. Timing chain work and steering fault codes need a workshop with a BMW-capable scanner.
- Biggest risks: water in the footwell (up to 3,500 EUR of damage), the N20 timing chain (1,600-2,200 EUR), and the electric steering rack (320-1,480 EUR).
- Prefer: a 2016 or later car with a full service record. Avoid: early N20 and N13 cars with no timing chain work on record, and manual B38 cars built before April 2015.
Engines and gearboxes
- 1.6 N13 (N13B16A, 114i to 120i, 2011-2016): the timing chain, cooling and oil use are in the table below. Ask for chain and oil records.
- 2.0 N20 (N20B20A, 125i, 2012-2016): the timing chain, oil pump and VANOS are in the table below. The chain is the main risk.
- 1.5 B38 (B38B15A, 116i and 118i, 2015-2019): early manual cars built before April 2015 have a weak crankshaft bearing. Later cars have the revised bearing.
- 2.0 B48 (B48B20A, B48B20B, 120i and 125i, 2016-2019): garage advice favours the later B48. No common fault is confirmed in these sources.
- 3.0 N55 (N55B30A, M135i, 2012-2016): the fuel pump, injectors and cooling are in the table below.
- 3.0 B58 (B58B30A, M140i, 2016-2019): no common fault is confirmed in these sources. Ask for the service record.
- 1.5 B37 (B37D15A, 116d, 2015-2019): no common fault is confirmed in these sources. Ask for the service record.
- 2.0 B47 (B47D20A, B47D20B, 118d, 120d and 125d, 2015-2019): the diesel that garages prefer. Its own guide covers its faults. BMW B47 diesel
- 1.6 and 2.0 N47 (N47D16A, N47D20C, N47D20D, 2011-2015): the timing chain and EGR cooler are in its own guide. BMW N47 diesel
- ZF 8HP automatic: its own guide covers shifting faults and oil-pan leaks. ZF 8HP automatic
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| N20 timing chain, oil pump and VANOS | N20B20A (125i), 2012-2016, most cases before 2015 | 60,000-150,000 km | KFZ Dietrich gives 1,600-2,200 EUR for the chain job (Germany, year not stated) |
| Water in the footwell | All cars | Not stated | KFZ Dietrich gives 1,500-3,500 EUR for the damage that follows (Germany, year not stated) |
| Electric steering rack (EPS) | All cars | Not stated | KFZ Dietrich gives 320-1,480 EUR (Germany, year not stated) |
| Suspension bushings, shocks and ball joints | All cars | 50,000-140,000 km | KFZ Dietrich gives 480-820 EUR front, 540-880 EUR rear, M Sport bushings with alignment (Germany, year not stated) |
| N13 timing chain | N13B16A (114i to 120i), 2011-2016 | About 100,000 km | From 755 EUR for a 116i (FairGarage, Germany, 2026) |
| Cooling: water pump, thermostat and overheating | N13B16A (114i to 120i), N55B30A (M135i) | About 150,000 km (N55 pump) | No confirmed price |
| B38 crankshaft thrust bearing | B38B15A (116i, 118i), manual gearbox, built before April 2015 | 30,000-100,000 km | No confirmed price |
| N55 fuel pump and injectors | N55B30A (M135i), 2012-2016 | Up to about 100,000 km | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Lift the floor mats and press the carpet in both front footwells. Bad result: damp carpet, a musty smell, or rust on the floor.
- Start the cold engine and listen for a rattle in the first few seconds. A BMW-capable scanner reads the camshaft adaptation values. Bad result: a rattle, values above plus or minus 5 degrees, or no record of chain work.
- Drive slowly and check the steering for stiffness, noise or play around the centre. A scanner reads the steering fault codes. Bad result: a steering warning lamp, a pull, or no record of steering work.
- Lift the car and check the joints and shocks by hand. Bad result: play in the joints, leaking shocks or knocks over bumps.
- Start the cold engine and listen again. Bad result: a rattle, or no proof of timing chain work.
- Ask for the fault codes of the fuel system and whether the pump or injectors were replaced. A scanner is needed. Bad result: long cranking, rough idle, a check engine light, or no proof of work.
- Check the coolant level and look for an overheating warning on a warm drive. Ask whether the water pump and thermostat were replaced. Bad result: a temperature warning, low coolant, or no pump work on a car with high mileage.
- Check the build date. Bad result: a manual B38 built before April 2015, with no proof that the crankshaft bearing was checked or replaced.
- Ask a BMW dealer to check open recall campaigns for the car's VIN. Bad result: an open campaign for the steering, starter, brake booster or seat backrest.
Running costs
| Operational | €181 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €121 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €156 |
| Total per month | €458 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €70 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 2,181
- 25th percentile
- €5,500
- Median price
- €6,999
- 75th percentile
- €8,900
- Median mileage
- 168,500 km
- Median first registration
- 2013
- Dealer share
- 40.4%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €9,205
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
N20 timing chain, oil pump and VANOS
The chain stretches, and its plastic guides wear. The first sign is a rattle on cold start, lasting three to eight seconds. Most cases are on cars built before 2015. The oil pump also failed more often. VANOS, the camshaft timing adjuster, needs repair after about 100,000 km, according to Auto.ru.
Fix: replace the chain with the guides, tensioners, rails, oil and filter. The job takes 9 to 12 hours.
Cost: KFZ Dietrich gives 1,600-2,200 EUR (Germany, year not stated).
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater, KFZ Dietrich, Auto.ru, ZR.ru
Water in the footwell
Water gets into the footwell in three ways. The door waterproofing hardens and peels after about five years. The drains in the electronics niche clog. The water box under the windscreen fills with leaves. Symptoms are damp carpet, a musty smell and electrical faults. Water can flood the control units. KFZ Dietrich gives follow-up damage of 1,500-3,500 EUR (Germany, year not stated).
Sources: KFZ Dietrich, Kolesa, Auto.ru
Electric steering rack (EPS)
The symptoms are stiff or noisy steering, play around the centre, and a steering warning lamp. The recall names two possible causes: corroded mounting bolts on the electric power steering (EPS) motor, or faulty contacts in the control unit. Both can cut the steering assist. Often the whole rack is replaced.
Cost: KFZ Dietrich gives 320-1,480 EUR (Germany, year not stated).
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater, Kolesa, KFZ Dietrich, Carwiki
Suspension bushings, shocks and ball joints
The symptoms are creaks and knocks over bumps, play in the joints and a vague steering centre. Auto.ru says stabiliser links, the short rods that connect the anti-roll bar, often need replacing from about 50,000 km. Auto.ru gives about 100,000 km for shocks, ball joints and bushings.
KFZ Dietrich gives M Sport bushing costs of 480-820 EUR at the front and 540-880 EUR at the rear, with alignment (Germany, year not stated).
Sources: Auto.ru, KFZ Dietrich, AUTO BILD
N13 timing chain
The chain can slacken and rattle at start-up. Auto.ru says wear usually shows after about 100,000 km. A slack chain can cause misfires and, in the worst case, engine failure. The fix is a new chain, tensioner and guides. Low-viscosity oil shortens chain life, so use the oil grade in the service book.
The FairGarage workshop price table gives from 755 EUR for a 116i (Germany, 2026). This is an average service price, not a quote for this fault.
Sources: euroautopro, Auto.ru, Kolesa, FairGarage
Cooling: water pump, thermostat and overheating
The electric water pump and the thermostat can fail. The signs are low coolant, leaks, an overheating warning and limp mode. Gebrauchtwagenberater reports the N55 pump failing after about 150,000 km. On the N13, overheating is common. Kolesa says about 80 percent of these cases are fixed by a software update or a temperature sensor fix. No confirmed price.
Sources: euroautopro, Gebrauchtwagenberater, Kolesa
B38 crankshaft thrust bearing
The thrust bearing that holds the crankshaft in place can wear or fail. ZR.ru gives thrust bearing play after about 30,000 km, and a failure can cause major engine damage. The fault is linked to the first half-shell bearing, which was too weak. Only manual gearbox cars were affected. From April 2015 BMW used a 360-degree collar bearing.
Fix: an engine repair with the revised collar bearing. BMW offered goodwill, but this is hard to claim after ten years. No confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater, ZR.ru
N55 fuel pump and injectors
The symptoms are long cranking when starting, power loss, rough idle, stalling and a check engine light. The high-pressure fuel pump and the injectors are weak on this engine. Auto.ru reports injector problems up to about 100,000 km. When one injector is faulty, garages often replace all of them. A scanner reads the fuel system fault codes.
Fix: replace the high-pressure pump or the injectors. No confirmed price.
Sources: euroautopro, Auto-Motor-und-Sport, Auto.ru
Recalls
| Country | Code | Years | What is done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | not given | Built 07/2011 to 05/2015, or 2011 to 2016 (sources differ) | Electric steering: motor bolts or control unit contacts can fail, and the steering assist is lost. The part is replaced by BMW. |
| Germany | not given | Built 09/2015 to 09/2021 (F20/F21: 07/2017 to 06/2019) | Starter not sealed against water. Corrosion can cause a short circuit and fire. The starter is replaced. |
| Germany | not given | Built 06/2012 to 08/2013 | Brake booster vacuum pump on the N20 125i. Faulty camshaft parts starve it of oil. BMW recall. |
| Germany | not given | Built 26.06.2017 to 20.07.2017 (3-door, electric memory seats) | Backrest may not lock. Free repair, up to 3 hours. |
Check open campaigns for your VIN with a BMW dealer.
Maintenance
- Water drains: clean the water box and the electronics drains once a year. KFZ Dietrich gives cleaning costs of 45-90 EUR (Germany, year not stated).
- Suspension: check the stabiliser links from about 50,000 km. Plan shocks, ball joints and bushings from about 100,000 km.
- Oil: check the oil level between services. The N13 and N55 can use or leak oil. The usual leaks are the valve cover, the oil filter housing and the oil pan gaskets.
Sources
English
German
- Gebrauchtwagenberater: F20 problems and recalls
- Gebrauchtwagenberater: B38 problems
- KFZ Dietrich: F20 typical problems
- Carwiki: 1er problems and recalls
- ADAC: F20 facelift 2 breakdowns and recalls
- Autozeitung: BMW recall
- AUTO BILD: 1er and 2er TUV statistics
- FairGarage: BMW timing chain prices
- Auto Motor und Sport: used 1er check