I’ve got a 2013 BMW M135i inspected. It has 86,000 km on it and the inspector gave it 3.5 stars out of 5. The only action required was that the engine oil level is low and needs topping up.

The owner mentioned the car was serviced at 85,000 km, so I’m not sure whether the oil was properly topped up during the service or if the engine may be consuming oil.

Should I be concerned about this before buying? Any advice from M135i owners would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Abhi

Can anybody please advise the part number for this and/or length of the main earth strap in case I want to use a non-standard one - even better if you have a link to something suitable!

Equally if anyone else has any ideas as to cause / things to check, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks,

Sam.

For longer than I can remember, every now and again I get a slow crank then engine start-up, Never when the engine is cold. more so when the engine is upto optimum temperture. Last week, my car was sat unused for 5 days. Whilst I was away with work.

I returned home last Sunday, to a frozen windscreen (Its approaching Mid April!!!) Anyway, car started the 2nd I hit the Start button, I always hit the button to turn off Stop/Start tech. Later that sunday I had to go out and do a little bit of shopping. Jumps in the car, hits the Start button, 'Check Tyres' error popped up. Fine, I thought, until i looked at the dash. it was pointing at all 4 tyres. (All 4 were fully inflated, just needed reset)

On Monday, I got up as normal in the morning, Took my boys to school, then headed off to get the bits I'd forgot the day before from the local Aldi, engine had been running 30-40 mins from leaving home to getting to Aldi via the kids school.

Once finished in Aldi, put the shopping in the car, hit the Start, and all I got was slow crank. but no engine start. Then 'Starter/Ignition Fault, Engine cannot be started' on the centre screen. So called recovery, who appeared an hour later, jumped in the car, it started immediately, even though i hd tried a few times before he got their.

His opinion was either, Battery or Starter. when I eplained it had similar issues in the past. he said it'll be a lazy starter. But could be battery. So, I bought a battery tester. This confirmed a battery Low reading. Happy I'd found the problem I went and bought a new battery.

Out of pure curiosity, once I'd pulled the old battery out. I put the battery tester on the OLD battery. Tester read FULL

by this point I had connected the new battery. So, put the tester on the new 1, whilst connected........... The tester read 'LOW'

Now confirming the battery is not the issue.......... Has anyone had the issue. Had it resolved. I'm not convinced it is the starter as it doesn't do it every time.

Thank for any help or advice.

I’ve owned my F21 118d for almost 5 months now. Since I’ve got it, it’s been making a squealing noise whenever I floor it. This only happens when above 2.5-3k revs and if I’m flooring it and in gear / driving. Had a garage check for a boost leak and all my pulleys / tensioners but they are all fine. About 3 months ago, whenever I turn the car off and turn it back on shortly after (engine still warm) it makes a whining noise that seems to come from the turbo - see attached video.

As the squealing sound sounds like it is some sort of bearing spinning, I’m wondering if the 2 issues are related. My turbo also started whining a bit louder and sounding different last night, which is why I think it may be the turbo.

I’m wondering if anyone had had this issue before with theirs? For reference, I believe the engine code is B47D2U0U?

I have it booked into the garage tomorrow so will be asking them to check the turbo before anything else unless anyone gives me a better idea.

Thanks

New here and first post to this forum. I've tried hard using the search as assumed this must have been covered lots here but couldn't find a definitive page, feel free to point me towards one if I've missed it.

Recently acquired 2015 F20 and looking to upgrade the head unit to accommodate carplay / phone mirroring. Unsure whether to do the whole screen replace or just MMI box. Are there options that allow for uprated audio too?

Don't mind paying for a decent unit - seen a lot Temu / ebay options but happy to spend more and didn't know what to avoid. Any supplier recommendations really welcomed.

Cheers

Dan

I’m having a strange issue with my BMW F20 116i 2012 (N13 engine) and I’m trying to figure out the cause.

The problem appears only in a specific condition:
After the car sits for about 4–6 hours (so not fully cold, but not warm either – kind of a semi-cold start).

At startup, the engine revs higher as expected. As the RPM starts to drop, I can hear a brief wastegate rattle. Immediately after that, the RPM fluctuates slightly and settles around ~700 rpm, where I notice a small vibration/shake.

After about 30–60 seconds or once I start driving, the engine becomes perfectly smooth with no vibration at all.

Important notes:

• Cold starts (after overnight) are perfect

• Fully warm restarts are also perfect

• The issue only appears in this “semi-cold” condition

Work already done:

• timing chain kit replaced

• injectors replaced

• ignition coils and spark plugs replaced

• MAF sensor replaced

• MAP sensor replaced

• lambda (O2) sensor replaced

• throttle body cleaned

• ECU adaptations reset

No fault codes, no loss of power, and the car drives perfectly once stabilized.

Has anyone experienced something similar or has any idea what could cause this behavior?

Thanks!

I posted a while back re an egg smell that we’re getting from our F40 118i.

The pollen filter and cat have now been checked but we’re still getting a slight smell when we’re pulling off from a stop with a hot engine.

We’ve now found a slight leak as per the pic attached. Seems like thin oil. Any thoughts as what it could be please? Just wondering if it could be related to the smell.

Thanks all

Now ‘Drivetrain fault’ pops up with BimmerCode reading these codes. No idea, and any help would be great. I’ve cleared them but they pop up again

TIA

Looking for some advice please.

We have a 2019 118i (front drive) with 16k on the clock.

All servicing is up to date.

We’re getting a very slight egg like smell through the air vents when the engine is hot. It happens after we’ve slowed down or stopped, eg at lights and are then pulling off. It clears quickly and is fine when driving at normal speed.

We had a transmission oil service recently and thought it may be that some old oil had spilt but that’s been checked and all is fine. We’ve also had a visual inspection of the exhaust and were told it looks like new but they couldn’t see the cat as it’s covered by the manifold. But surely a cat shouldn’t fail at 6 years / 16000 miles?

Has anyone experienced anything similar? The smell is minor and the dealer can’t pick it up, but it’s definitely there, both my wife and I can smell it (and it’s not us!!). Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks all.

I have just had a major service on my 1 series 116d (2021). The day after I checked under the car as a cat went under it. Whilst looking my ancillary belt seems to have started to shred.

I have changed the belt and ever since there has been a clicking noise. The tensioner is also going ten to the dozen. I’m not sure if it was there before or not! Has anyone seen/heard this?

Thanks in advance.

Newbie here. I have a 2013 116d with 78k on the clock.

Randomly the other day the RPM just started hanging / coming back down very slowly, and when stationary, idle creeps from circa 900rpm up to around 1200/1300 and stays there.

It's had a scan and the only fault code coming up is for 'Fuel Filter Heater Open Circuit'.

It's booked in next week for a full service including new filter with heater (£££ 😂) but just wondering if anyone has encountered this before and whether I'm being optimistic thinking this might sort the issue, or whether I need to be prepared to look elsewhere for a cause?

Thanks guys.

Sam.

Just bought 118 sport, and was wondering should the parking sensors stay on even when taken out off gear and hand brake on

Cream leather interior in great condition, no rips or tears. Drives beautifully - smooth handling, quick acceleration, and excellent on fuel.

Recently had a full MOT and service (June 2025) and runs perfectly with no mechanical issues.

- M Sport Package

- Heated Full Leather Seats

- Cruise Control

- Steering Controls

- Automatic with Paddle shifters

- Low mileage for its age

Plate is private and will be removed upon sale - original plate is PJ13HKO.

A well cared for car in great condition inside and out - ready to drive away.

Any questions please feel free to contact me - Swansea SA1 Marina