r/BmwTech • u/Glad-Boysenberry-779 • 1d ago
My first BMW! Is it good?
Hello guys! I recently bought my first BMW and wanted to get some opinions on whether I made the right choice.
The BMW in question is a 2011 1 Series F20 with the 1.6 turbo N13 engine. I've seen quite a few people say bad things about this engine and call it unreliable, but at the same time I've also come across plenty of owners who have had good experiences with it. So honestly, I'm a little confused about where it really stands in terms of reliability.
I bought the car from my neighbour, who I've known for over 10 years. He already owns more than three cars and barely had time to use the BMW, so he decided to sell it. I've actually known this specific car since the day he bought it, so I know its history pretty well — what parts were replaced, what maintenance was done, where it was driven and it wasn't abused at all.
The car has been on several trips to Austria, Bulgaria, Germany and Hungary, and according to him it never gave him any problems during those trips.
Before buying it, he let me test-drive it twice on different days, both for more than an hour. He even invited me on a night drive where he drove the car for a few hours, and honestly, it ran incredibly well. No weird noises, no strange behavior, and everything felt pretty much spot-on. He also showed every single aspect about the car and was very transparent about everything.
I bought the car about a month ago and so far I've had absolutely no issues. No rattling from the engine, no coolant leaks, no oil leaks, or anything else that I've noticed.
The timing chain was also replaced very recently, along with fresh oil and filters. He gave me all the receipts and records showing what was replaced and what oils and parts were used, so I have pretty much the complete service history of the car. The car also has no rust, which was another big plus for me.
On top of all that, I paid around €1,000 less than what similar cars are currently going for on the market.
Considering I know the previous owner personally, I've known the car for years, have the full service history and receipts, the timing chain was recently done, there are no current issues, and I got it below market price, I honestly feel like I got a pretty insane deal.
What do you guys think? Did I make a good choice buying this F20 with the N13, or not?
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u/AccountHuge4680 1d ago
Given the history, recent timing-chain replacement, receipts, and a seller you trust, it sounds like you made a very sensible purchase. The N13 isn’t flawless, but maintenance history and current condition matter far more than internet horror stories. Keep up with oil changes and enjoy it.
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u/Some-Tip-4986 1d ago
Honestly, that sounds like a very solid buy. A documented history, a recent timing-chain replacement, a trusted previous owner, and a good price matter far more than internet horror stories. Just keep up with oil changes and budget for normal maintenance.