Carsieve All versions
At a glance
- Years: 2009 to 2015. The 2012 facelift added trims, EfficientDynamics and electric power steering.
- Reliability: 2/5. The xDrive transfer case, the N20 and N46 timing chains and steering wear lower the score. At the TÜV the E84 does fairly well, but AUTO BILD (2026) puts parking brake defects above the class average.
- DIY: 2/5. Chain and transfer case jobs need a workshop and a scanner. The N47 chain needs the engine out.
- Prefer: a 2012-or-later car with full service records and proof of recall work. The six-speed manual has no fault in the sources read.
- Avoid: xDrive cars with jerking, a whine or mismatched tyres, and any car with no timing chain record.
Engines and gearboxes
- 2.0 N46 petrol (N46B20B, 18i): the timing chain is in the table. Oil burn and an unreliable oil level sensor are reported by several Russian sites.
- 2.0 N20 petrol (N20B20A, 20i and 28i): the chain and oil pump drive are in the table.
- 2.0 N47 diesel (N47D20C, 16d to 23d, and N47D20D, 23d): the timing chain stretches. KFZ Dietrich puts it at 100,000-150,000 km. The chain, EGR cooler and swirl flaps are in its guide. See the BMW N47 diesel.
- Six-speed manual: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- Six-speed ZF 6HP automatic (to 2012): See the ZF 6HP automatic.
- Eight-speed ZF 8HP automatic: See the ZF 8HP automatic.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| xDrive transfer case | xDrive (AWD) cars, 2009-2015 | From 50,000 km (Za Rulem); 100,000-150,000 km (KFZ Dietrich) | No confirmed price |
| N20 timing chain and oil pump chain | 20i and 28i (N20B20A), 2011-2015 | Timing chain before about 100,000 km in hard use; oil pump chain before 70,000 km (Kolesa) | No confirmed price |
| N46 timing chain | 18i (N46B20B), 2010-2015 | About 100,000-150,000 km | No confirmed price |
| N47 diesel injectors | N47D20C and N47D20D | 150,000-200,000 km | No confirmed price |
| N47 particulate filter | N47D20C and N47D20D, short-trip use | About 200,000 km at high revs (Za Rulem) | No confirmed price |
| Steering knocks and rack leaks | All cars | Under 50,000 km for the lower shaft (Auto.ru); under 200,000 km for rack leaks | No confirmed price |
| Front suspension wear | All cars | Ball joints about 40,000-80,000 km (Kolesa) | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Drive full-lock circles and pull away gently. Listen for a whine and feel for jerking. Ask for transfer oil change records. Bad result: jerking, a whine, mismatched tyres or no record. Read codes 5F30 and 5F31 with a scanner (needs a scanner).
- Start the engine cold and listen for a timing chain rattle in the first seconds. Ask for chain records. Bad result: a rattle or no record.
- Start the engine cold and listen for a timing chain rattle. Ask for chain records. Bad result: a rattle or no record.
- Listen for jerking on the drive and smell the exhaust for diesel. Ask for injector work. Bad result: jerking, a diesel smell or no injector record above 150,000 km.
- Ask whether the car was mainly used on short trips. Read codes 480A, 4820 and 4821 with a scanner (needs a scanner). Bad result: those codes.
- At a stop, turn the wheel to full lock both ways and listen for knocks. Look for oil at the rack. Bad result: knocks, play or leaks.
- Lift the car and check the ball joints, lower-arm mounts and stabiliser links for play. Bad result: play or knocks over bumps.
- Check every recall in the table by VIN with a BMW dealer. Bad result: an open campaign.
Running costs
| Operational | €203 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €128 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €158 |
| Total per month | €489 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €79 |
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
- 878
- 25th percentile
- €5,900
- Median price
- €7,290
- 75th percentile
- €8,999
- Median mileage
- 178,000 km
- Median first registration
- 2011
- Dealer share
- 55.2%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €9,674
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
xDrive transfer case
Symptoms: jerking in tight turns when pulling away, and a hum from the driveshaft area. Moisture and dirt enter through the breather and wear the clutch, by about 50,000 km (Za Rulem). Plastic gears wear, and a servo that locks the multi-plate clutch can fail. After about 150,000 km, two of the four driven wheels can drop out (Auto.ru). Fix: replace the plastic gears, or fit the stronger unit from the 3.0 version. The front differential is also reported to run out of oil, with damaged bearings. Fault codes 5F30 and 5F31 point to the actuator.
Cost: no confirmed price.
The sources name different transfer case units. This guide says only "transfer case".
Sources: KFZ Dietrich, Za Rulem, Auto.ru, Kolesa
N20 timing chain and oil pump chain
Symptoms: a rattle on cold start and when the load changes. The chain wears early in hard use. The timing chain can fail before about 100,000 km, the oil pump chain before about 70,000 km (Kolesa). A shortage of oil can cause serious engine damage. Fix: replace the chain. The sources give no part numbers.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater, Za Rulem, Kolesa
N46 timing chain
Symptoms: a rattle on cold start and when the load changes. The chain stretches, and the tensioner is the weak part. Za Rulem and auto.ru give different lives: one says the chain often stretches by about 100,000 km, another says it lasts about 150,000 km and can fail by 50,000 km. Fix: replace the tensioner with the upgraded version and use the full kit (Auto.ru).
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater, Za Rulem, Auto.ru, Kolesa
N47 diesel injectors
Symptoms: jerking and a diesel smell. Injectors can fail from about 200,000 km. Leaks can cause hydro-lock or piston burn-through (Kolesa). Piezo injectors and the EGR valve can clog.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: CarWiki, Kolesa, Za Rulem
N47 particulate filter
Symptoms: fault codes 480A, 4820 and 4821. The filter clogs mainly on short trips and when ash builds up. Za Rulem puts its life at about 200,000 km at high revs. Fix: ultrasonic cleaning.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: KFZ Dietrich, Za Rulem, Kolesa
Steering knocks and rack leaks
Symptoms: knocks when manoeuvring or at full lock, from the steering column universal joint on older cars (Gebrauchtwagenberater). The lower steering shaft is replaced under warranty before 50,000 km (Auto.ru). Rack leaks are frequent before about 200,000 km. On pre-facelift cars the rack rod seals corrode (Za Rulem).
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater, Auto.ru, Za Rulem, Kolesa
Front suspension wear
Symptoms: knocks and play in the front. Front ball joints and the lower-arm hydraulic mount last about 40,000-80,000 km (Kolesa). The mount is often misdiagnosed. Rear floating arm bushings wear before about 100,000 km (Za Rulem). Wheel bearings wear "relatively quickly" (Gebrauchtwagenberater). Fix: replace the worn parts. The sources give no part numbers.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Za Rulem, Kolesa, Gebrauchtwagenberater
Recalls
| Country | Code | Years | What is done |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK (Auto Express), Germany (Gebrauchtwagenberater) | not given | Built from March 2011 (Auto Express: to January 2017) | Four-cylinder diesel: EGR cooler can leak glycol. Gebrauchtwagenberater says this is a fire risk. Remedy not stated. |
| Germany (Gebrauchtwagenberater and CarWiki) | not given | Built up to 2012 (CarWiki: from 2007) | Electric steering control unit fails: loss of steering assist. Workshop repair. |
| Germany (Gebrauchtwagenberater and CarWiki) | not given | Production December 2010 to June 2011 | Driveshaft coupling disc can break and leave the car stranded. Remedy not stated. |
Check every campaign by VIN with a BMW dealer.
Maintenance
- Engine oil: Gebrauchtwagenberater advises a change every 10,000-15,000 km and links early chain wear to BMW's 30,000 km interval. Za Rulem advises 8,000 km and calls the 20,000-25,000 km service interval too long.
- Transfer case oil: do not delay the change. The sources give no interval.
Sources
English
German
- Gebrauchtwagenberater: X1 E84 problems
- CarWiki: X1 problems
- KFZ Dietrich: X1 typical faults
- AUTO BILD: X1 in the 2026 TÜV check