BMW N13 engine report, 118i F20
BMW N13 · 1 Series (F20)
1.6 LPetrolInline-42011–2015
54/100
Checked by hand
[risky]
Worth buying, listen for the chain
Worth buying if the service history checks out.
ExcellentGoodSolidRiskyAvoid
- Known issues
- 1
- Critical
- 0
- Sources
- 63
Verdict
One fault matters more than the rest on this engine, and it is the timing chain.
Our confidence in that call is middling, which in practice means owners report it constantly but it is not always what turns out to be wrong. Either way the check is the same. Listen to a cold start for rattle or whine, ask for the service history, and pay for an inspection before you commit.
Specs
- Displacement
- 1.6 L
- Layout
- Inline-4
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Production
- 2011–2016
- Chassis
- F20
- Generation
- Pre-LCI
- Fitted
- 2011–2015
Known issues
1 confirmed · sorted by severity
ModerateTiming chain stretch / guide wear
Timing chain elongates or plastic guides wear prematurely, causing rattle, incorrect valve timing, or in severe cases chain failure.
Symptoms
- Knocking Noise
- Cold Start Rattle
- Warning Light
How often
Very common · Age-related wear. Does not normally destroy the engine. Still drivable.
- Critical
- High
- Moderate
- Low
Timing chain stretch / guide wearfrom 140k km
Check the car you're looking at
Owners rarely say at what mileage this engine's problems start, so they aren't sorted by mileage here. These are the ones to ask the seller about, the ones it's best known for first.
What to ask about
Buying checklist
BMW N13 (118i F20) · Buying checklist
Sources
Updated 16 Sept 2026 · scoring v2.7
Behind this report sit 63 owner posts, forum threads and official records. Nothing gets on the list on one person's word. It takes a recall, or owners on separate platforms describing the same fault. The score then sets how often a problem turns up against the damage it does.