All the faults I have / had with my BMW F20 116i N13 f21

A viewer asked me the other day, what issues have I had and have with my BMW F20. Most of them are not due to the fault of my car. I just wanted to show you what I need to do, to make this car perfect. What issues do you have with your F20/F21

[@vincentthielmann8600]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@PlanetautoUK]

Another great video, clear and concise with lots of info, thank you Matt

[@mattsbeamer]

Thank you Ben :)

[@Liam-oh1jf]

Hi Matt. The exhaust tip on my 114i F21 has really pitted quite badly I think beyond repair. Do you know if these can be changed out for a new one or are they welded on?

[@EE-nu2gh]

Almost the same stetic issues in my 118i, even the scratch in the front bumper jajaja. Front bumper's paint is really thin. I bought paint for the scratches in the dealer, really cheap and works fine for those small details. Great video Matt, regards.

[@mattsbeamer]

E E thanks once again for your input. What is your name? )) I may have to buy some touch up paint for the smaller areas :) I wish I had the guts to spray the bigger work. If it was an older cheap car I would :)

[@JYeti88]

Hi, a few notes, hope these help: 1. Steering squeak - most likely you need to lube the rubber seals where your steering column enters the engine compartment. It is reachable from the pedals. If not (just like in my case), you need to lube the U bearings of the steering in the engine compartment. 2. AC noise - could be a leaf in your filter, there are some DIY videos on youtube. Y

[@mattsbeamer]

Thanks for the tips! I really need to investigate the issue soon :D cheers

[@mattsbeamer]

@@joshsanderson5512 it’s just a video so people know what DIY videos are coming after the weather is warm. I can’t wait till we are in the plus numbers again. Lol

[@KINIKs]

I am living in Antalya mostly sunny days. We have 45 degrees at the summer but i never had suxh steerrin wheel noise.

[@mattsbeamer]

Today I was playing about with my steering wheel height when stuck in traffic. The sound stopped. I hope it's cured fully

[@vknazarenko]

Hey there, Matt:) Thanks a lot for your videos. To me, they are of great help as I'm planning to buy the very model next year here in Moscow. So glad I've stumbled across your channel. I'm looking for a pre-owned car, but I have no clue how to choose wisely and what I should pay attention to. I'd really appreciate if you gave some advice on buying used BMW 1 series or told about your personal experience in details.

[@mattsbeamer]

Hey Vladimir! Wow, it is good to see a subscriber from Moscow! :) Not many of my subscribers are from Russia, I wish I could speak Russian :) I am currently building up a buyer guide to help people like yourself to buy one. The main issue I find in Russia, in general, is finding a decent car in the first place. Unfortunately, not many owners look after their cars and thrash them etc. I did make a general video on the N13 engine which my car has (which tells you what issues they can have, and in the comments my lovely subs have helped with their issues). I also made a video on my zf8hp auto box, it should be as smooth as silk. One weak point on the f20 is the cooling system. You need to make sure its all been maintained properly. Also with Russia, be careful with rust and accident damage. :) It would be ideal to get someone to check the car over properly, to see if there are any issues. I bought this car off my wife's friend, who owned this car from new, so I knew all of the issues it had. She is good friends with a dealership, who knew this car inside out. When you are serious about buying one, I would recommend taking it to Avtodom on the MKAD (i think 52KM). Let me know nearer the time and ill let my good friend know. This check can save you buying a turd, and help you to knock the price down.

[@vknazarenko]

​@@mattsbeamer Oh! Learning Russian is not a big deal if you live here. If you need a person to practise speaking with, I'm at your service. What's more, my girlfriend is a teacher would be, she's specialised in teaching RSL:) I really value your opinion in videos you told me about. I've watched them both! Some of my friends say, 1-series is a big problem of a car provided one bought it preowned. It's kind of risky and you may end up spending way too much on it. I understand that Japanese cars are more trustworthy than BMW, but I am crazy about its charm and the way it looks, so I'll do my best to prove my friends wrong. Your videos make me feel even more sure about that:) I'll definitely contact you when I'm serious about buying a car. That's good to know a place and a person who'd check the car properly. That's very kind of you to offer help to a complete stranger. Thanks again for your channel! Keep it going, Matt:)

[@dmitrybashmakov900]

@@vknazarenko Я как раз тоже собрался, мужики. Автопрагмат кошмарит по поводу бензиновых двигателей, типа они рассыпаются. А у дизелей по 200+ пробега. Даже не знаю, кому верить.

[@ust4ever1]

Any chance of a buyers guide for the N13 engine? Things to look out for? Would you buy an F20 with this engine if you were buying today? Or would you look to buy one of the newer engines such as the B38 or B48? I'm currently searching and struggling to decide, there's some lovely examples with this older engine for sale but I want to make the right choice to avoid reliability issues/costs! Thanks :)

[@mattsbeamer]

Hey mate, I made a N13 video on my channel. The comments I have received on that video are also very useful. I am planning to make an buyers guide for the F20. I am just trying to collect lot of information. I do like N13 and haven't really had any experience with the B38/48. But I will put information together for other engines :) Thanks for your message.

[@FuelPower]

Very informative video there Matt. Those curbs are very high indeed over there in Russia!

[@mattsbeamer]

Thank you Mr Wulls. I’m guessing that’s your name lol. Yes, they can be a pain :)

[@FuelPower]

@@mattsbeamer Close enough to my name ;) call me Jake :)

[@mattsbeamer]

Wull's Wheels thank you Jake! Nice to meet you!

[@FuelPower]

@@mattsbeamer I fully suspect that when I do a Q&A at some point, "what's your actual name?" and "why Wull's Wheels?" Will be 2 of the most common questions 😆

[@mattsbeamer]

Wull's Wheels haha. Let me know when you you’ll do it. I’ll think of some, as I’m sure Joesph and Ben will. They usually have great questions lol :)

[@LiamS94]

Mine's going in for another recall next week to have the EGR cooler replaced. Apart from that, it's been totally faultless. I do have _personal_ issues with the car... Not sure if yours has one judging by the lack of sensors around the interior light, but all UK spec 1 series' come with a factory alarm, and it went off for the first time last week (left the window open). It's way too quiet. I don't see the point in installing one if the volume is so low it can't penetrate double glazing windows. Might ask the dealer if they can turn it up to 11 in the coding.

[@mattsbeamer]

I do find the BMW alarms way too quiet, my BMW doesn’t have an alarm. :) I hope you get your alarm sorted.

[@lindypet7425]

Thankyou for sharing , is it because by cleaning your car at home you would be taking work from someone else ,is that why there is a law against it in Moscow?

[@mattsbeamer]

Hey linda, yes that’s one reason and the other is to do with the chemicals getting into the sewers etc, not that it makes much different with the chemicals they spray on the roads etc everyday lol

[@gatosandwichera]

Oh I’ve got the same bubbles on the paint of my 116d. I just got it 2 weeks ago, it’s a 2013 and I’m in loooooove with it!! I’m just hopping I won’t hve an bad surprises in the near future. What does “drive your car harder” mean? Mine is also automatic and I generally just drive it to commute... any recomendations for general care?? Lol mine is white too and it also seems dirty much of the time in the rainy weather from where I live hahah. Thanks for this channel!!!

[@mattsbeamer]

Thanks for the message. Drive your car harder means, accelerate harder etc. I have to take my car on the motorway, and floor it up to the limit, ease off then boot it again (I put it in sports mode too) It has helped with my driving. Just don't trash it when it cold.

[@gatosandwichera]

@@mattsbeamer oh, I see!! Good to know!! I'm a an ecopro kind of driver on weekdays, but I like to have fun and see what the car can do on weekends!

[@lorenzofelton3564]

I just got a 2013 BMW 116i 5DR A/T (F20). I was wondering if you could please explain the auto/stop function? Thank you

[@mattsbeamer]

Hey I made a video on the cruise control, on my channel .Thanks got the question, it helped me make a Q&A video :)

[@lorenzofelton3564]

mattsbeamer thank you 💪🏽

[@sebmason]

I have a BMW 118i 2012, I had some bubbling rust and BMW sorted it as they have a 12 year warranty on paint

[@mattsbeamer]

Sebastian Mason oh that’s interesting. Is that because you have full service history from the dealerships?

[@sebmason]

@@mattsbeamer All new BMW cars are covered by a 12-year anti-corrosion Warranty against perforation by rust. This started back in 2004

[@mattsbeamer]

Sebastian Mason thank you :) I only thought they honoured this If the car was checked all the time BMW. I will be interesting to see if it works in Russia. I know with my iPhone, the warranty doesn’t work fully, as they say Apple isn’t officially in Russia, which was a pain when it came to trying to sort my bent phone lol.

[@monjrazan]

I have a drive train sign on my car Matt please can you help me identify the problem. I find it hard trusting garages

[@mattsbeamer]

Hey, with this light it could be anything. Mine came on because I had some dirty fuel in the system. It is best to get someone with a scanner to scan it, or maybe the car has a code in the system. Later I’ll try and find out where this screen is on the hidden menu. My memory isn’t good. Hopefully it’s a small issue

[@wonkey5363]

Mine was misfire needed ignition coils

[@RaphaelPais]

Have you noticed that your F20 is one of a few that have the E90 style dashboard below the climate control? Is that a Russian Market thing? Or early production car?

[@dxnnyk1411]

I believe it's an ES model. They often don't have a screen.

[@mattsbeamer]

Yea the base version in Russia and i think Mexico never got the idrive standard. I was quite sad about this, because when my wife said her friend was selling this car, I thought it would have had idrive, as in the Uk and most other places they have idrive as standard. Thanks for this question, I added the question to my last Q&A :)

[@RaphaelPais]

@@mattsbeamer thanks for the reply, don´t worry, maybe in the future you get yourself a CIC or NBT retrofit for cheap =)

[@stingamihai4310]

Some grease under the stering to the end at that ruber end no noise .

[@mattsbeamer]

Thank you :D

[@GrollerG]

You could add the following : plastic tip of the oil dipstick broken off inside the engine. Not yet fixed. But engine seems to run ok.

[@mattsbeamer]

Hello, I had the dipstick plastic part break off on my e46 compact years ago. Mine engine was also ok, as the plastic had got trapped in a filter. I hope That yours will be ok too

[@fok2548]

I just turn 18 . And i want to buy an f20 . Do you think it s a good car for beginners. It is hard to drive in winter?

[@mattsbeamer]

For Hey, the good thing about newer bmws for new drivers is, they are very easy to drive. In winter snow will be a pain, so if where you live has a lot of snow, maybe not :) when I was 18 I was on my 3rd BMW which was a (now classic) e30 325i touring, that was a slippery car in the wet lol :) As for running costs, BMWs need to be serviced on time, and as for the oil changes, it's best to do that sooner then BMW says :)

[@fok2548]

@@mattsbeamer I live in romnia and some people told me isn't that hard to drive rwd in winter. But I want to hear it from a f20 owner. I heard the car has a good stability and if you dont have speed in slippery conditions I won't have a problem .but thank you

[@mattsbeamer]

Fok I cool, I have got some friends From Romania :) yes you should be ok. Are you allowed studded tyres in Romania? They really do help on the snow. RWD can struggle on hills with no studs.

[@fok2548]

@@mattsbeamer it's forbidden

[@fok2548]

@@mattsbeamer hello . I bought the car . But I have a problem the handbrake is weak. Did you have the same problem?

[@EndritAl]

Bro I just bough first BMW ever in my life. My family has always tradition to biy VW like haha.I bought 116i F20 130 000 km on clock. Do you think this is a good car? Thanks for replying!

[@mattsbeamer]

I have been very happy with mine :) keep on top of the maintance and you should be fine :)

[@dmitrybashmakov900]

What about the engine? Any issues? Specifically, did the timing chain need replacement? Oil consumption? Engine-related emergencies requiring you to have tha car towed? I'm going to buy an F20 soon, and I'm kind of anxious.

[@Jokesxxl]

Cool, what kind of work do you do in Russia?

[@mattsbeamer]

Cheers. I am wanting to get a job with BMW some how. :)

[@Jokesxxl]

mattsbeamer ?

[@bethells86]

I urge young people not to buy this car even though it seems cheap and well presented. My son has this as his 1st car and poor guy is so disillusioned about cars on the whole. It is so fragile, every month he has to get something fixed, cooling system, turbo orings, pumps, plastic hoses, fuel pump etc. according to Bmw dealers they are all common faults. Costing a lot. He is scared to drive the blimin thing now. This brand is only good to about 60kms, very very unreliable beyond that. It will empty your pocket and stress you out every time you drive it. Stay away from it.

[@mattsbeamer]

What faults do you have with your bmw f20 f21 1 series?

[@Liftily]

Hi Mats, cool and useful video as always! I dont know if thats a fault of my BMW but its burning oil like 2litres per 6k km (it is 0.33l per 1k km). Ia that an issue for that model of BMW (BMW 1.6i, year: 2011, petrol, 136horsepower) ?

[@mattsbeamer]

Liftily hey, thanks for the comment. I really need to look into this too as it seems common. According to a person who made some info on the n13 on wiki commons, they say that they can consume 0.7litres per 1000km or 1qt per 850miles. I’m not sure how accurate this is thou :)

[@anthonycampbell9807]

mattsbeamer I’ve noticed when removing the vanos solinoids I had to remove the air pipes to gain access. There is a breather pipe that joins to the top of the engine block, it’s a flexi pipe. I noticed mine has some oil residue inside there. If you remove the top engine cover you can see there’s a square cover next to the pipe which underneath there’s a rubber valve which Apparently can split. I’m trying to inspect mine but I am unable to remove it and I don’t want to break it. I have also split the Flexi pipe which may have already been split but I’m going to phone bmw tomorrow for a new pipe. This link might interest you f20.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1522560

[@ze3934]

Easy question to anwser..... none.......i am a lucky man......

[@mattsbeamer]

Anthony Campbell that’s a very interesting link thank you. Please keep us updated. Good luck :)

[@StringerBellz]

How come you hardly drive the car? That mileage is super low

[@mattsbeamer]

It’s not always the nicest way of traveling in Moscow. If I was back home in england I would drive a lot more :)

[@terrificspokesman7416]

@@mattsbeamer What's wrong with Moscow. Are the roads bad

[@mattsbeamer]

Aaron Dsouza Hey, to be honest the roads aren’t that bad, better than the Uk roads (as in condition). The issue is, traffic jams all the time. Sometimes it’s easier to get the metro and walk. A 20 min on the metro can take up to 4 hours on a bad day. Lol

[@terrificspokesman7416]

@@mattsbeamer Oh. OK

[@dan7023]

My god that parking though 🤦🏻‍♂️😅

[@mattsbeamer]

lol, I know. When I park straight (in line with the white lines) people tend to still park at an angle, and I worry about them smacking me. I'll find a photo. lol

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Doesn't seem too bad given the age of the car, sir...

[@mattsbeamer]

Lloyd Vehicle Consulting thanks Lloyd. It's very good for Russia.

[@srs_lol]

PAHHAHAH £230 that’s hilariously low 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@mattsbeamer]

Amazing isn't it lol :)

[@pawelm4502]

Hahaha its scratch verly easly- which car aint

[@mattsbeamer]

lol, true, but the paint on the 1 Series was always a bit thinner than other models, around the bumpers.