BMW 1 Series F20 (2011-2019): known problems and buying guide

A workable used car with known weak spots. Prefer a 2016 or later car with a full service record, and check the timing chain and steering first.

Updated 26 October 2026

All versions

Variant	Running cost per month	Median price	Listings	Fuel	Engine codes	Gearbox	Production years
116i, 109 PS, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Research	€416	€8,750	261	Petrol (98)	B38B15A	Manual (6)	2015–2017
118i, 136 PS, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Research	€436	€9,990	207	Petrol (98)	B38B15A	Manual (6)	2015–2017
116d, 116 PS, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive	€379	€8,750	165	Diesel	B37D15A	Manual (6)	2015–2017
120d, 190 PS, 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research	€410	€13,950	142	Diesel	B47D20A	Automatic (8)	2015–2017
120d, 190 PS, 8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research	€422	€13,950	142	Diesel	B47D20A	Automatic (8)	2015–2017
118d, 150 PS, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Research	€402	€10,000	117	Diesel	B47D20A	Manual (6)	2015–2017
118d, 150 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive Research	€407	€10,000	117	Diesel	B47D20A	Manual (6)	2015–2017
118i, 136 PS, 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research	€430	€12,499	106	Petrol (98)	B38B15A	Automatic (8)	2015–2017
118d, 150 PS, 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research	€402	€11,000	94	Diesel	B47D20A	Automatic (8)	2015–2017
118i, 136 PS, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Research	€446	€8,900	86	Petrol (98)	N13B16A	Manual (6)	2015
116d, 116 PS, 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research	€386	€10,100	71	Diesel	B37D15A	Automatic (8)	2015–2017

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.

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

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

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.

Operational	€172
Workshop	€113
Fixed costs (tax, insurance)	€151
Total per month	€436
New-car depreciation (not included)	€76

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.

To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.