Models · BMW
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer F45 and Gran Tourer F46 buying guide
BMW's first front-wheel-drive cars: the five-seat F45 Active Tourer from 2014 and the longer F46 Gran Tourer with a third row of seats from 2015, both sold until 2021. Engines are BMW's three- and four-cylinder petrols and diesels, with xDrive four-wheel drive on some versions.
The versions
- Petrol: 216i and 218i (1.5 three-cylinder B38), 220i and 225i (2.0 four-cylinder B48), the 225i with xDrive and automatic only
- Diesel: 214d and 216d (1.5 three-cylinder), 218d and 220d (2.0 four-cylinder B47), the 220d available with xDrive
- Front-wheel drive, with xDrive four-wheel drive on some versions
- 6-speed manual or automatic, depending on version; the 216d was manual only
- A 225xe plug-in hybrid was also sold but isn't covered here
What to check on a 2 Series Active Tourer
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
How a diesel has been used
What to look for: Ask the seller what kind of journeys the car has done. Watch the dashboard for any particulate filter or engine warning, and include at least ten minutes at a steady motorway speed on the drive.
Why it matters: The diesel particulate filter cleans itself at higher speeds, so a diesel that rarely leaves town is the one most likely to have a blocked filter. A diesel with regular longer runs in its history is a sign of a car that suits its engine; for mostly short trips a petrol is the better fit.
The boot floor and its flaps
What to look for: Open the boot, lift the floor panel and work the spring-loaded plastic flaps. Check the floor sits flat and secure, and look for broken or missing pieces of plastic.
Why it matters: The boot floor flaps are a known weak point. The floor panel can come detached and needs the flaps lifted to reseat it, and the flaps can shear if they aren't clipped back correctly. Simple to put right, but easy to miss at a viewing.
Recall work
What to look for: Before you travel, give the VIN to a BMW dealer and ask whether any recall work is outstanding.
Why it matters: Some 2 Series Active Tourers and Gran Tourers were included in a 2020 recall for camshaft bearing cap screws that could work loose inside the engine, where the fix ranged from tightening to a new cylinder head.
Also in the full guide
- Electrics and infotainment
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the 2 Series Active Tourer
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.
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.