Carsieve All versions
Show all 13 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 | €182 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €111 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €156 |
| Total per month | €449 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €76 |
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
- 1,296
- 25th percentile
- €11,500
- Median price
- €13,990
- 75th percentile
- €16,500
- Median mileage
- 109,990 km
- Median first registration
- 2018
- Dealer share
- 53.3%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €15,447
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.