UK · BMW
Used BMW cars for sale in the UK
The Ultimate Driving Machine — and the engine code that decides the rest.
BMW cars for sale right now
2012 BMW 320d
£4,995 · 127,987 miles · Much Birch, Hereford
2014 BMW 420d
£10,995 · 50,210 miles · Much Birch, Hereford
2019 BMW 4 SERIES GRAN COUPE
£15,695 · 61,000 miles · Spalding, Lincolnshire
2014 BMW 2 SERIES
£5,800 · 99,000 miles · Blandford, Dorset
2016 BMW M4
£25,995 · 59,000 miles · Glasgow, Scotland
2013 BMW X1
£5,495 · 78,000 miles · Birmingham, West Midlands
2013 BMW 4 SERIES
£10,990 · Derby, Derbyshire
2022 BMW IX
£39,950 · 57,380 miles · Uxbridge, Middlesex
2005 BMW 3 SERIES
£9,995 · 66,912 miles · Uxbridge, Middlesex
2018 BMW 7 SERIES
£27,995 · 25,000 miles · Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire
2022 BMW M4
£47,690 · 41,650 miles · Doncaster, South Yorkshire
2023 BMW 1 SERIES
£20,450 · 21,540 miles · Doncaster, South Yorkshire
2017 BMW 1 SERIES
£22,985 · 39,000 miles · Doncaster, South Yorkshire
2015 BMW 2 SERIES
£7,495 · 99,718 miles · Plymouth, Devon
2013 BMW 3 SERIES
£5,495 · 143,466 miles · Plymouth, Devon
2018 BMW 6 SERIES GRAN COUPE
£16,400 · 83,433 miles · Stockport, Cheshire
2019 BMW X2
£9,990 · 79,511 miles · Stockport, Cheshire
2015 BMW 4 SERIES GRAN COUPE
£9,698 · 77,922 miles · Retford, Nottinghamshire
2021 BMW 1 SERIES
£22,998 · 31,666 miles · Retford, Nottinghamshire
2020 BMW 1 SERIES
£14,898 · 47,144 miles · Retford, Nottinghamshire
2019 BMW 7 SERIES
£21,998 · 99,786 miles · Retford, Nottinghamshire
2020 BMW 8 SERIES GRAN COUPE
£20,998 · 106,354 miles · Retford, Nottinghamshire
2016 BMW 1 SERIES
£7,995 · 104,500 miles · Oldham, Lancashire
2005 BMW 3 SERIES
£1,499 · 86,000 miles · Newton Abbot, Devon
BMW motorbikes for sale
BMW's UK range runs from the 1 Series hatchback through the 3 Series and 5 Series saloons and estates to the X1, X3 and X5 SUVs. Some model years are much better buys than others, and the engine fitted — identified by its engine code — decides which is which.
Top BMW models on Autoza right now
These are the BMW models with the most cars listed on Autoza right now. Prices are current average asking prices and update through the day.
Browse BMW by model
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BMW for sale by city
BMW: what MOT records show
MOT records show 82.8% of BMW cars pass the MOT first time, 4.7 points better than the national average for cars of the same age (78.1%). Counted from 194,962 DVSA tests; a pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Compared against cars of the same registration years. A car with only minor defects or advisories still passes; a major or dangerous defect is a fail. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules.
Figures from MOT tests carried out in 2025. Sampled from nine months of 2025 (January, February, April, May, July, August, September, October and November). Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
BMW in the UK — what to know
BMW has a nationwide network of franchised retail centres across the UK, backed by a deep bench of independent BMW specialists in every major city. The used BMW market is shaped above all by engine choice and the N47 diesel timing-chain reputation. Supply is huge and prices competitive, but the N47 chain risk on pre-2015 2.0d engines is the dominant filter for used buyers — getting the engine code right matters more than badge or trim.
Known issues — what to check before you buy
These are the issues most commonly flagged by UK mechanics and forum reports for used BMW cars. Use them as a checklist on viewing.
BMW 3 Series F30 / 5 Series F10 / 1 Series F20 / X3 F25 (N47 2.0d) (2007–2015)
Catastrophic timing chain failure. Chain sits at the rear of the engine (gearbox end) so failure means engine-out repair. Forum-confirmed cases without warning lights. Repair: £2,500–£3,500 specialist, £4,500+ main dealer. BMW UK ran an unofficial goodwill programme.
BMW 5 Series F10 (2010–2013 (pre-Nov 2011))
Defective engine oil bolts cause an oil leak and EML light. Plus Variable Damper Control (VDC) failures and air-con condenser weld failures.
BMW N20 2.0 petrol (320i / 520i / X1 / X3) (2012–2015)
Early timing chain stretch (front of engine — cheaper to repair, ~£1,800). Rocker cover gasket leaks universal after 80,000 miles.
BMW X3 F25 / X5 F15 N57 3.0d (2010–2017)
Timing chain at rear of engine — "death rattle" on cold start. EGR cooler can leak coolant into the inlet. DPF clogging on short-trip use.
BMW 5 Series F10 / 3 Series F30 suspension and brakes (All)
Hard on front control arms, drop links and brakes. Budget £600–£900 for front control arm refresh, brake discs/pads every 40–50,000 miles.
BMW Pre-LCI F30 xenon / adaptive headlights (2012–2014)
Frequent alignment failures at MOT. Replacement units £400–£1,400.
Best years to buy used in the UK
• 3 Series F30 LCI (2016–2018) with B47 diesel — chain redesigned, sturdier 1-piece guide. • 5 Series F10/F11 (2014–2016) with N57 or B47. • X3 G01 (2018+) — most reliable X3 generation. • X5 F15 (2014–2018) 30d/35d. • 1 Series F20 LCI (2015–2019) with B47/B48. • 530e PHEV G30 (2019–2021) — battery degradation negligible, ideal urban commuter.
Years to avoid
• Any N47 2.0d in 3 Series, 5 Series, 1 Series or X3 from pre-March 2011. • F10 5 Series pre-November 2011 (oil bolts). • Pre-2013 X3 F25 18d/20d. • E70 X5 35d (older N57 + age). • Any BMW diesel without ISTA scan or documented chain replacement.
Running a used BMW in the UK
Parts & servicing
BMW parts are mid-high. Dealer monopoly on electronic modules (FRM Footwell Module, CIC/NBT infotainment, adaptive headlights). Aftermarket-friendly on brakes, suspension, filters, belts — top brands (Lemförder, FAG, Bilstein) easy via Euro Car Parts, Autodoc or German factors. Indicative repair costs: N47/N57 timing chain £2,500–£3,500 specialist; DPF £450 clean / £1,200–£1,800 replace; EGR cooler £900–£1,400; clutch + DMF 320d £1,500–£2,000. Independent BMW specialists are widely available across the UK and most do ISTA-equivalent diagnostics for £60–£90 — well worth it before buying any older BMW diesel.
Common MOT failure points
Emissions failures cluster on N47/N57 diesels where EGR/DPF maintenance has been ignored. On B47/N57, an AdBlue or SCR fault that lights the engine management lamp is a major defect and fails; a low-AdBlue top-up prompt on its own is not an MOT item. F10/F11 5 Series often fails on front lower arm play. Passenger seat occupancy mat faults on F-platform cars throw a rear airbag/seatbelt warning, which lights the SRS lamp — a major defect, so it fails.
Our top BMW picks for UK buyers right now
BMW 320d F30 LCI M Sport (B47 engine)
2017–2019
Post-N47 chain redesign, Euro 6 emissions, huge UK supply. Pick an ex-demo or approved-used car with full BMW service history.
BMW X3 G01 xDrive 20d
2018–2020
New platform, far more reliable than F25. ZF 8-speed auto is bulletproof, AWD genuinely useful in UK winters.
BMW 530e PHEV G30
2019–2021
Excellent urban commuter. 50 miles EV range, strong used supply means prices are cheap. Battery degradation negligible.
Buyer's pro tip
If you're buying any BMW diesel built before 2015 in the UK, the only number you need is the engine code — and you need to see it on the VIN sticker, not just take the seller's word. N47 = run. M47 (pre-2007) = old but more honest. N57 = check for documented timing-chain replacement or service stamps confirming chain is unstretched. B47/B57 = post-2015 redesign, much better. Most UK independents will run an ISTA scan in 15 minutes for £60 — that scan shows chain wear via crankshaft/camshaft correlation parameter. No private seller will let you do this if they have anything to hide, so insisting on the scan is one of the quickest ways to rule out a bad car.
BMW buying questions, answered
What is the BMW N47 timing chain issue and which cars does it affect?
The N47 is BMW's 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel built 2007–2015, fitted to the 116d/118d/120d, 316d/318d/320d, 520d, X1 18d/20d, X3 18d/20d, and several Mini Cooper D variants. The timing chain sits at the back of the engine. When the chain stretches or the tensioner fails, the chain skips teeth and either destroys the engine or requires an engine-out repair starting at £2,500. BMW ran an unofficial UK goodwill programme but never publicly acknowledged the design fault. The replacement B47 engine (2015+) has a redesigned chain and resolves the issue.
How much does a BMW timing chain replacement cost in the UK?
For an N47 2.0d (engine-out): £2,500–£3,500 at an independent BMW specialist or £4,500+ at a main dealer. For an N57 3.0d: similar range — also engine-out. For an N20 2.0 petrol: cheaper at ~£1,800 because the chain is at the front. An ISTA scan at any decent BMW specialist costs £60–£90 and shows you chain wear before you buy.
Is a 3 Series cheaper to insure in the UK than a 5 Series?
Yes, meaningfully. 320d sits at insurance groups 27–34, 520d at 34–40. A 30-year-old driver with full no-claims on a 2018 320d M Sport typically pays £900–£1,400/year; the same driver on a 520d pays £1,200–£1,800. Younger drivers (under 25) are routinely refused cover by mainstream insurers on 3 Series and above. M cars sit at groups 43–50 and are almost uninsurable for under-25s.
What's the most reliable used BMW for an UK buyer?
The 2017–2019 320d F30 LCI with the B47 engine. Post-N47 chain fix, Euro 6 emissions, plentiful supply, well-known to every UK BMW independent. Add the 2018+ X3 G01 if you need an SUV (the G01 is significantly more reliable than the F25 it replaced).
Does the BMW i3 hold its value in the UK?
An i3's price depends most on its battery — the early 60Ah cars have far less range than the later 94Ah and 120Ah versions — and on whether it has the Range Extender (REX). Before you buy, ask for a battery state-of-health report from a BMW dealer or specialist, and compare the asking price with the i3s listed on Autoza today.
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