KNOWN FAULTS · BMW

Known faults for the BMW X1 (E84).

2009–2015 · Diesel / Petrol

Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.

6 known faults with sources

Engines: 18d / 20d / 23d (N47) (Diesel)

Stretched rear timing chainTiming system

Engine / equipment: N47 2.0 diesel (116d–123d, 316d–325d, 520d, X1/X3 18d-20d)
Period mentioned: 2007–2015 (improved from 2011)
Symptoms: Rattling from the rear of the engine (gearbox side) on a cold start, getting worse over time. In extreme cases the engine cuts out while driving.
Possible cause described: The timing chain sits at the rear of the engine; its guides are poorly lubricated and the chain stretches. If it jumps or snaps, the valves hit the pistons and the engine is destroyed.
Check for the garage: Listen with the engine fully cold, ideally with a mechanic's stethoscope on the rear of the block.
Cost cited in the source: Approx. €2,000–4,000 at an independent garage (engine must come out)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 18d / 20d / 23d (N47) (Diesel) · 20i / 28i (N20, desde 2011) (Petrol) · 18i (Petrol)

Corrupted FRM3 module (lights and windows)Electrical and electronic systems

Engine / equipment: FRM3 footwell module (lights, indicators and windows): 1 Series E81 to E88, 3 Series E90 to E93, X1 E84, Z4 E89, X5 E70, X6 E71 and E72 and MINI R55 to R61
Period mentioned: 2004–2015
Symptoms: After a flat battery, a battery change or disconnection, or a jump start: lights, indicators or windows stop working, side or dipped lights stay on and diagnostics cannot communicate with the module (for example code 00A3C1).
Possible cause described: The module's EEPROM gets corrupted by low or unstable voltage: a flat battery, jump starting, overcharging from a faulty alternator or loose terminals. It is a module software fault, not a wiring fault.
Check for the garage: Check the battery and charging and try communicating with ISTA. If the module does not respond, it can be repaired by rewriting its EEPROM (specialist services or programmers) instead of being replaced, then coded. Use a voltage maintainer when working on the car.
Cost cited in the source: Repair by a specialist service: from about €20–60 plus postage; new module with dealer coding: considerably moreA rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 20i / 28i (N20, desde 2011) (Petrol)

Broken plastic chain guidesTiming system

Engine / equipment: N20 / N26 2.0 turbo petrol (118i–125i, 320i/328i, 520i/528i, X1/X3 20i-28i, Z4)
Period mentioned: Approx. 2012–2015
Symptoms: High-pitched whine from the engine that rises with revs, rattle on a cold start.
Possible cause described: The plastic chain guides become brittle and break. The chain goes slack and can jump, or the fragments block the oil pump.
Check for the garage: Check the guides through the oil filler opening and listen for the whine with the bonnet open.
Cost cited in the source: Approx. €1,700–3,300A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 20i / 28i (N20, desde 2011) (Petrol)

Oil filter housing gasket leakOil leaks

Engine / equipment: N20 / N26 and other BMW engines with an aluminium oil filter housing
Period mentioned: 2011–2017
Symptoms: Oil leak at the front of the engine, oil on the auxiliary belt (squeal or burning smell), sometimes oil and coolant mixing.
Possible cause described: The oil filter housing gasket hardens with heat cycles and cracks. Together with the valve cover gasket, it is the most common BMW oil leak.
Check for the garage: Visual inspection of the filter housing area, the belt and the bottom of the engine.
Cost cited in the source: €400–900A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Mileage cited in the database: 80,000–130,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.

Engines: 20i / 28i (N20, desde 2011) (Petrol)

BMW petrol electric water pump, leaks and VANOSCooling / leaks / VANOS

Engine / equipment: BMW petrol engines with an electric water pump: N52, N53, N54, N55, N20 and others from 2004–2016
Period mentioned: 2004–2016
Symptoms: Temperature warning and limited power with no prior warning (water pump); burning oil smell or smoke from leaks onto the exhaust or belt; rough idle and VANOS codes (2A82, 2A87).
Possible cause described: The water pump is electric and its electronics fail, often without warning, between 95,000 and 160,000 km. The valve cover and oil filter housing gaskets harden and leak; the latter can drip onto the belt. The VANOS solenoids get dirty and fail.
Check for the garage: Check the water pump and thermostat history, look for leaks at the valve cover and oil filter housing, and read VANOS codes.
Cost cited in the source: Water pump: approx. €550–1,100 fitted; oil filter housing gasket: €275–550; valve cover: €370–740 (converted from dollars)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Mileage cited in the database: 95,000–160,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.

Engines: 20i / 28i (N20, desde 2011) (Petrol)

N20 judder in hot weather caused by the wastegate pressure converterInjection / turbo

Engine / equipment: N20 2.0 turbo petrol in the X1 (E84), Z4 (E89), 5 Series (F10), X3 (F25) and 3 Series (F30)
Period mentioned: Approx. 2012–2015
Symptoms: Repeated judder or surging when accelerating between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm in hot weather, with no engine light and no stored fault codes.
Possible cause described: The electropneumatic pressure converter (EPDW) that moves the turbo's wastegate valve binds internally. BMW describes it in its technical bulletin SI B11 10 12 of January 2013.
Check for the garage: Tell the garage it only happens in hot weather and between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm even with no codes; ask them to check the wastegate pressure converter (next to the oil filler cap) before replacing coils, injectors or the turbo.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.