Carsieve All versions
Show all 18 variants
At a glance
- Years: 2012 to 2019. The 2015 facelift added LED headlights and the B48 and B47 engines.
- Reliability: 3/5. The N20 timing chain and the xDrive driveline pull the score down. B48 and B47 cars do better.
- DIY: 2/5. The timing chain job and steering fault codes need a workshop and a BMW-capable scanner.
- Biggest risks: the N20 timing chain, the brake vacuum pump recall on 2012-2013 N20 cars, and worn xDrive parts.
- Prefer: a 2016 or later B48 petrol, or a B47 diesel with a full service record. Avoid: early N13 and N20 cars with no timing chain work on record.
Engines and gearboxes
- 1.6 N13 (N13B16A, 316i and 320i to 2015): avoid. Oil use is high, and the timing chain weakens after about 100,000 km.
- 2.0 N20 (N20B20A, N20B20B, 320i and 328i): the chain, oil pump and VANOS problems are in the table below. Cars built to about 2015 carry the most risk.
- 1.5 B38 (B38B15A, 318i from 2015): no common fault found in this guide. Ask for the service record.
- 2.0 B48 (B48B20A, B48B20B, 320i and 330i from 2016): prefer. Valve stem seals harden, and oil use can rise up to about 100,000 km. Check the oil level between services.
- 3.0 N55 (N55B30A, 335i): no common fault in this guide. Ask whether the engine was tuned.
- 3.0 N57 (N57D30A, N57D30B, 330d and 335d): no common fault in this guide. Check the service book for regular oil changes.
- 3.0 B58 (B58B30A, 340i): no fault data in this guide.
- 2.0 B47 (B47D20A, B47D20B, 318d, 320d and 325d from 2015): the preferred diesel. Its own guide covers the EGR valve and turbo. BMW B47 diesel
- 2.0 N47 (N47D20C, N47D20D, 316d to 325d, 2012-2015): the timing chain and EGR cooler are in its own guide. BMW N47 diesel
- M3 (F80, S55B30A): a separate car with its own faults. Not covered here.
- 6-speed manual: the dual-mass flywheel (a damper between engine and gearbox) lasts about 100,000-150,000 km according to Kolesa, and Auto.ru says it may need replacing at high mileage.
- ZF 8HP automatic: see its own guide. ZF 8HP automatic
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| N20 timing chain, oil pump and VANOS | 320i and 328i (N20B20A, N20B20B), built to about 2015 | 80,000-120,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Brake vacuum pump recall | 320i and 328i (N20), built June 2012 to August 2013 | Not stated | Free (recall) |
| Electric steering sensor and EPS faults | All cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| xDrive transfer case and driveshaft | xDrive (AWD) cars | 50,000-150,000 km | No confirmed price |
| iDrive screen and software faults | Early cars with iDrive, 2012-2015 | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Electric coolant pump failure | N13 and N20 cars, 2012-2016 | 60,000-80,000 miles (about 97,000-129,000 km) | No confirmed price |
| Front suspension wear | All cars | 50,000-150,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Steering rack bolts on RWD cars | Pre-facelift rear-wheel-drive cars, 2012-2015 | Not stated | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Start the cold engine and listen for a rattle in the first seconds. Read stored codes P0016 and P0017 with a scanner. Bad result: a rattle, those codes, or no proof of timing chain work.
- Read the steering warning lamp and stored codes with a scanner. Bad result: a warning lamp, a pull or drift, or no repair record for the sensor or steering software.
- Check the iDrive screen, Bluetooth and navigation for ten minutes. Bad result: freezes, dropouts, dead pixels or an old software version.
- Drive away gently and listen for knocks or jerks from under the car. Ask for transfer case oil change records every 50,000-60,000 km. Bad result: knocks, jerks or no oil change record.
- Check for overheating warnings and ask whether the electric coolant pump was replaced. Bad result: a temperature warning, or no pump replacement on a car over about 100,000 km.
- Lift the car and check the front shocks, ball joints and stabiliser links. Bad result: play in the joints, leaking shocks or knocks over bumps.
- On a pre-facelift rear-wheel-drive car, ask for proof that the steering gear bolts were replaced with steel. Bad result: no record.
- Ask a BMW dealer to check open recalls for the car's VIN. Bad result: an open brake vacuum pump campaign.
Running costs
| Operational | €187 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €155 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €181 |
| Total per month | €523 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €97 |
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
- 2,410
- 25th percentile
- €11,850
- Median price
- €15,000
- 75th percentile
- €18,700
- Median mileage
- 155,900 km
- Median first registration
- 2017
- Dealer share
- 54.2%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €19,362
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.