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BMW 1 Series 116i Business Edition Plus common faults.

2019–2024, hatchback, petrol, 109 HP.

The fault list covers: B38A15 engine, GS6-UKL transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

2 fault write-ups. Both are important. 2 recalls.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

2 important faults

B48 and B38 petrol: the timing chain guide rail breaks

critical

Plastic guide rails hold the timing chain in place. On these engines the plasticiser in the plastic leaches out over time, the rail turns brittle and then breaks into pieces. The pieces land around the chain and further down, in the oil sump and on the strainer of the oil pump, and the leached plasticiser also deposits on that strainer. Two kinds of damage come from this: without its guide the chain starts to flap, and less oil reaches the engine through the narrowing strainer. The first sign is a rattling noise on a cold start that goes quiet after a few seconds or once the engine has warmed up. It is heard best on a fully cold start in the morning, because the chain tensioner needs time to tension the chain. The problem is reported above 60,000 km. Replacing the chain costs between 700 and 2,900 euro, and is typically four figures, because the chain can only be reached by removing several engine components.

above 60,000 km700–2,900 EUR

What to check

  • Start the engine fully cold in the morning and listen for the rattling noise
  • Ask whether the chain and the guide rail have been replaced, and ask for the invoice
  • Ask when the oil was last changed and how often the car was serviced
2 more steps in the write-up

Electric water pump: silent failure, immediate overheating

critical

In these engines the water pump is not belt driven but has its own electric motor. It gains on fuel consumption, but it opens a new failure path: the pump or its electronics often simply stops with no warning. Measured in the official complaints, the typical mileage is 161,000 km (a tenth of the complaints already at 81,000, a tenth only above 257,000 km). So the common wisdom of "around 100,000 km" is early: most of the failures happen between 130,000 and 250,000 km.

Show the rest

With a belt driven pump the flow weakens gradually, here the circulation stops in an instant. In urban traffic the temperature crosses the limit within minutes, the cylinder head distorts, and the repair is an engine rebuild.

Replacing a still good pump at around 120,000 to 150,000 km costs less than repairing an overheated engine. If the replacement is already in the service book, the pump has already been changed.

between 81,000 and 257,000 km

What to check

  • Watch the coolant temperature gauge after startup: it should settle evenly, not jump around
  • Standing still with a warm engine, listen for whether the cooling fan and the pump are working
  • Ask for a fault code read: codes pointing at coolant flow belong here
2 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

BMW 1 Series 116i Business Edition Plus

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

Ask the owner

Faults of this model

vinkodex.com · Before you buy it, see what can go wrong.

Official recall2 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done.

A12/01785/21Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The screws which were used to assemble seatbelts and also on the rear seats of the vehicles concerned may not have been manufactured in accordance with specifications. In some cases, the screws in question cannot withstand extreme loads, which could increase the risk of injury in the event of an accident. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

SR/03830/25Safety recallFireno date · EU Safety Gate

Water may come into contact with the starter relay and gradually cause corrosion. This could affect the electrical connection inside the relay and make the engine difficult to start. It may also result in a short circuit and could cause the starter to overheat leading to a fire when the vehicle is in motion or when it is parked with the ignition off. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

Engine and transmission

B38A15

65–103 kW (88–140 HP) · petrol

GS6-UKL · 6-speed manual, transverse (Getrag, BMW UKL)

manual · 6 speed

Torque limit450 Nm
MakerGetrag

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
116i Business Edition Plus
Body
hatchback
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
manual
Engine size
1499 cc
Power
80 kW (109 HP)
Drive
FWD
Production
2019–2024

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years

  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years

  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)

  • Engine oil and oil filter (BMW condition-based service)

    • LongLife25,000 km or 2 years

  • Spark plugs, petrol

    • 60,000 km or 6 years
All F40 versions

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms