Used BMW 1 Series 2011-2019 reliability

Check the exterior for dents, scratches and scuff marks to the bumpers and bodywork because that can be expensive to fix. Make sure the alloy wheels aren’t heavily kerbed, too.

Push every button in the interior to make sure all the electrics work correctly. Also, inspect the seat fabric for any wear to the driver’s side seat bolster because these cars have been known to rack up huge mileages. If the seat is well worn but the mileage is low, be suspicious.

Engine may cut out

There have been three recalls related to an electrical issue that could lead to the engine potentially stalling while in motion and the exterior lights switching off. A cable supplying power to the power distribution box has been found to fail in the engine bay. The driver may notice the lights in the instrument cluster flickering.

Backrest could fold forward in a collision

The driver’s seat might not latch correctly and could fold forward in the event of a collision, harsh braking or if an unsecured load hits it. If your car is affected, then the BMW dealer may have to replace the seat.

EGR module may leak

A number of 1 Series that are fitted with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) module could have an issue with it leaking. In extreme circumstances, it could cause a fire, so affected cars should be inspected by a BMW dealer to find out if it needs replacing.

Limp home mode activating while driving

Screws in the variable camshaft timing (VANOS system) may loosen over time on some models and potentially break off. If that happens, the VANOS system will malfunction and cause problems with the valve timing of the engine. This will throw up a warning light and put the car in limp home mode, reducing engine power.

The propshaft universal joint may fail

The 1 Series is rear-wheel drive; there is a propshaft to take the power from the engine at the front and send it to the back wheels. A union at the front may fail and require a replacement to be fitted.

Power steering failure

There have been two recalls relating to the power steering. The first affects only a small number of examples and is caused by power steering ECU failure, while the second is due to a component failure and may require the steering box to be replaced.

Fuel pump failure

The fuel pump in the tank may stop working because it has components that haven’t been nickel-plated correctly. A warning lamp and message will be displayed in the instrument cluster, but the brakes and steering should still work. If your car is affected, it’ll need a new pump.

Loss of drive

A bolt in the clutch pressure plate may work loose over time and result in the inability to select any gears and, therefore, lose drive. A small number of cars were affected by this recall, and your BMW dealer will be able to advise you further.

Crankshaft sensor fault

There’s a possibility that due to faulty software in the crankshaft sensor, you may experience rough running, reduced engine power or an engine stall while in motion. If your car is affected, the dealer will need to replace the whole sensor.

A previous winner in its class, the 1 Series ranked first again out of 37 cars in the family car class in our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey. It was one of only two cars in the survey to achieve a perfect 100% result. You can see the full list here.

Reliability rating 100%

What went wrong? Nothing

The 2011-2019 BMW 1 Series is proving remarkably dependable. None of the owners who completed our survey reported their cars as having suffered any faults at all over the previous 24 months.

Owner’s view: “The build quality is great and it’s been faultlessly reliable.”

In our 2024 survey, the 1 Series continued its exemplary record. This year it scored 98.6% and finished third out of 26 cars in the family car class.

Used BMW 1 Series reliability: the owners' view

Readers who told us about their experiences with the BMW 1 Series for our annual Reliability Survey reported that their cars were mostly dependable, even among those who had covered significant mileage.

However, readers raised some minor issues, including the car’s windscreen washer jets becoming clogged if BMW’s screenwash wasn’t used. Others highlighted that the car’s safety and convenience systems could sometimes be overly sensitive, presenting myriad warning messages to drivers which some found irritating.

Limited feedback about BMW’s dealer network suggests that most interactions were good. Indeed, the absence of feedback from readers about major issues overall suggests that the 1 Series is a dependable buy – as highlighted by its class-topping result in our Reliability Survey.

BMW, as a brand, placed 16th out of 32 manufacturers in the 2023 survey, and eighth place out of 32 in the most recent 2024 survey – a good result. See the full list of manufacturers here.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.

To take part in our annual reliability survey with your car, please follow the link here