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BMW 1 Series (E87) E81

2004–2013
Community-sourced·updated July 9, 2026·1 sources
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Overview
Community orientation

The E81/E82/E87/E88 1-Series with N43/N46 fours, the N52 six (130i), the twin-turbo N54 and later N55 (135i), and M47/N47 diesels — the smallest RWD BMW hatch/coupé of its era. Editorial summary, not a reliability rating; per-configuration facts below.

Filtered: N47 · 2.0L diesel (N47).

Known issues

Sorted by severity. Tap an issue to reveal its symptom, repair and what to check.

HighEGR cooler leaks / clogging (N47)EU market
HighTurbocharger wear (N47)EU market
MediumDPF clogging on short trips (N47)EU market
MediumInjector wear (N47)EU market
MediumIntake swirl-flap wear (N47)EU market

Engines & reliability

Tap a row to filter the issues to that engine.

Pre-purchase checklist

Cold start
  • Listen for chain rattle during a fully cold start
Diagnostics
  • Scan for low-rail-pressure DTCs before the test drive

Maintenance

Key service intervals — vary by engine and driving conditions.

ItemIntervalCost
Early timing-chain check
Engine oil and filter12,000–15,000 km
Cooling-system refresh120,000–150,000 km