Models · BMW
BMW 1 Series E81/E82/E87/E88 buying guide
The first 1 Series, built from 2004 to 2013 as a three-door, five-door, coupé and convertible, and the only rear-wheel-drive hatchback of its era. Engines run from the 116i to the twin-turbo 135i, and the engine code matters more than the badge when it comes to what to check.
The versions
- Four-cylinder petrols: N45 and N46 (116i, 118i, 120i), or the lean-burn N43 on later 116i, 118i and 120i, so the same badge can carry different engines
- Six-cylinder petrols: N52 in the 125i and 130i; twin-turbo N54 in the 135i to 2010, then the single-turbo N55
- Diesels: M47 in the early 118d and 120d (before 2007), then the N47 in the 116d, 118d, 120d and twin-turbo 123d
- E81 three-door and E87 five-door hatchbacks, E82 coupé and E88 convertible, all rear-wheel drive
- 6-speed manual or 6-speed ZF automatic; the 135i N55 offered a 7-speed dual-clutch from 2010
What to check on a E87 1 Series
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
A rattle from the back of an N47 diesel
What to look for: Open the bonnet and have the seller start the engine from cold. Listen at the back of the engine, where it meets the bulkhead and the gearbox. An even diesel clatter from the front is normal. A metallic rattle or whine from the back, on start-up or as the revs fall after a blip, is the thing to note.
Why it matters: On the N47 the timing chain runs at the gearbox end, so replacing it means taking the engine out. Specialists report the earlier engines as the most affected. Many cars have already had the chain done, and that invoice is one of the most valuable things in the history file.
Chain noise on the four-cylinder petrols
What to look for: On a 116i, 118i or 120i, listen at the front of the engine from a stone-cold start. The idle should settle within a couple of seconds with no metallic chatter. A rattle that lasts more than a few seconds, or returns as the revs drop, is the thing to note.
Why it matters: The N45 and N46 chains stretch and their plastic guides wear at higher mileage. On the N43 the guides can break up and block the oil pickup, which is the serious fault on that engine. Ask the seller for the engine code from the VIN before you travel, and for any chain invoice.
The electric water pump
What to look for: Check the coolant expansion tank level with the engine cold, and ask the seller whether the water pump has ever been replaced and whether the car has ever shown a temperature warning or gone into reduced power.
Why it matters: The N43, N52, N54 and N55 use an electric water pump that fails without much warning rather than leaking slowly, and owners report failures anywhere from about 60,000 to 150,000 miles. An original pump at high mileage is one to plan for. The N45, N46, M47 and N47 have a conventional belt-driven pump instead.
Also in the full guide
- Oil leaks on the six-cylinder petrols
- Starting and pulling on the 135i
- The rear subframe
- Tailgate wiring and the convertible roof
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the E87 1 Series
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with BMW.