BMW called the Gran Tourer (F46) the first premium compact model to offer up to seven seats. It is the longer-wheelbase version of the Active Tourer F45, built on the UKL2 platform shared with the BMW X1 F48; its third row of fold-flat jump seats was optional in Germany and standard in the UK. The 220d with its 190 PS B47 diesel is available with front-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive. Front-wheel-drive cars were offered with a six-speed manual from December 2015, with the eight-speed Aisin automatic optional; xDrive cars are automatic, and the 2018 facelift made the automatic standard.· more· less
B47 diesel is torquey and efficientPractical MPV with up to 7 seats (third row optional in Germany, standard in the UK)
EGR cooler fire risk recallDPF clogs easily on short trips
Buy if: You need a premium diesel MPV with up to seven seats (third row optional in Germany, standard in the UK) for longer journeys and can verify the EGR cooler recall has been completed.
Avoid if: Your driving is primarily short urban trips, which accelerate DPF and EGR problems on this engine.
Maintenance costs
€900 – €1,700/year
at 15,000 km/year
Fixed costsservice, tyres, brakes€550 – €950 /yr
Risk bufferunplanned repairs€350 – €750 /yr
Price estimates are based on German asking prices. Prices and costs vary by vehicle condition and location.
Maintenance costs
Maintenance assumes 15,000 km a year. Price estimates are based on German asking prices. Prices and costs vary by vehicle condition and location.
€900 – €1,700per year
€550 – €950
service, tyres, brakes
€350 – €750
repair buffer
Price & maintenance
Used price
€14,500
median asking price, typically 160,000 km
Typical range€12,000 – €17,200
Kilometres drivenAll
Maintenance cost
€900 – €1,700/year
at 15,000 km/year
Fixed costsservice, tyres, brakes€550 – €950 /yr
Risk bufferunplanned repairs€350 – €750 /yr
Price estimates are based on French asking prices. Prices and costs vary by vehicle condition and location.
Ownership costs
Maintenance assumes 15,000 km a year. Price estimates are based on French asking prices. Prices and costs vary by vehicle condition and location.
Used price
€14,500
Typically €12,000 – €17,200, at around 160,000 km.
Internal crack lets coolant enter exhaust side, creating a risk of engine compartment fire · more· less
The B47 EGR cooler can develop internal cracks, allowing engine coolant to leak into the exhaust gas recirculation module where it mixes with hot soot deposits. In rare cases, this has led to smouldering and engine bay fires. BMW's EGR cooler recall covers four- and six-cylinder diesels across many model lines, including the B47 in both 2 Series Tourers. Its January 2010 to December 2017 production window is campaign-wide rather than a Tourer window, it was expanded in March 2021 without published variants or window, and BMW puts the action at about 4.4 million vehicles worldwide. Once every action that applies to the VIN has been carried out, and both the software and the cooler work are covered, the fire risk is substantially reduced. The cost listed applies if the car falls outside the recall scope or if coolant has already damaged the intake manifold. Check with a BMW dealer by VIN whether the recall applies and has been completed before purchase.
DPF clogging from short-trip driving
up to €1,8002 of 8
Frequent short urban trips prevent regeneration, leading to excessive soot buildup · more· less
Passive regeneration depends on the exhaust running hot enough, which sustained higher-speed driving produces most readily; roughly 20 minutes at motorway speed is a favourable condition rather than a fixed requirement. Gran Tourers used primarily for school runs, shopping and city commuting reach those temperatures less often. When soot loading exceeds approximately 45 grams, the car enters limp mode and requires professional intervention. Forced regeneration costs €150-300 at a specialist. DPF cleaning runs €300-600. Full replacement including labour is €1,000-1,800. This is especially relevant for the Gran Tourer, as its MPV role means many examples have been used predominantly for short trips. Regular motorway drives of at least 30 minutes every one to two weeks help prevent buildup.
Hesitant shifting and jerking at low speeds, often caused by neglected fluid changes · more· less
The 8-speed Aisin GA8F22AW is generally reliable. BMW specifies no fixed ATF change interval. Neglecting fluid changes leads to degraded shift quality, hesitation between gears and eventually internal damage. Forum reports specifically mention the F46 220d xDrive exhibiting stuttering gear changes at 30-60 km/h when accelerating gently. Preventive fluid service costs €300-500 at a specialist, far cheaper than the alternative. Valve body repair runs €1,500-2,500, while a full rebuild reaches €3,000-3,500. Independent specialists advise a preventive fluid change at about 60,000-100,000 km. Front-wheel-drive cars built from December 2015 until the 2018 facelift may instead have the six-speed manual, which is not affected.
EGR valve carbon buildup
up to €7004 of 8
Carbon deposits restrict the EGR valve, causing rough idle and reduced performance · more· less
Separate from the cooler recall, the EGR valve accumulates carbon deposits over time, especially in city driving. Symptoms include rough idle, poor throttle response, increased emissions and engine warning lights. Professional cleaning resolves the issue at €200-400. Full replacement costs €400-700 including labour. The 190 PS tune of the 220d produces more exhaust gas pressure than the 218d, which can slightly accelerate carbon buildup in urban driving patterns.
AdBlue system malfunction (LCI from March 2018)
up to €1,0005 of 8
NOx sensor or dosing pump failure triggers a warning, and depending on the fault a countdown towards engine-start inhibition · more· less
From the March 2018 facelift (LCI), SCR with AdBlue injection is standard on all F45/F46 diesels, including the 220d Gran Tourer. The most common failure points are the upstream and downstream NOx sensors and the AdBlue dosing pump. A faulty NOx sensor sends inaccurate readings; depending on the fault the car displays a remaining range until start inhibition, and where that countdown is shown the engine will not restart once it reaches zero. Individual NOx sensor replacement costs €300-500 including labour. Dosing pump replacement runs €600-1,000. Cars built before March 2018 do not have AdBlue and are not affected; Euro 6 certification alone does not mean SCR.
Timing chain tensioner wear
up to €2,5006 of 8
Chain sits at the flywheel end, making replacement expensive, though failure is much rarer than on the N47 · more· less
The B47 timing chain sits at the transmission end of the engine. BMW significantly improved chain and tensioner durability compared to the N47, and premature failure is uncommon on the B47. In the transverse UKL2 installation, chain replacement requires removal of the gearbox, making the job labour-intensive. Specialists recommend inspection if the car has covered more than 150,000 km or shows any rattle on cold start. Repair cost typically runs €1,500-2,500 due to the labour involved. Using BMW LL-04 specification oil and, as independent specialists advise for preventive care, changing it about every 15,000 km helps protect the chain.
Water pump and thermostat housing failure
up to €1,0007 of 8
Belt-driven mechanical pump wears gradually, risking overheating if not addressed · more· less
The B47 uses a belt-driven mechanical water pump and a separate thermostat housing. The pump can develop leaks or bearing wear, and the thermostat housing is known to develop coolant seepage over time. Symptoms include a coolant warning light, poor cabin heating and temperature gauge fluctuations. Combined part cost is approximately €300-450, with labour adding €200-400. Failures typically occur between 80,000 and 120,000 km. If overheating is allowed to persist, it can cause cylinder head warping.
Swirl flap and intake manifold carbon buildup
up to €1,2008 of 8
Plastic swirl flaps degrade and soot buildup restricts airflow · more· less
The B47 uses plastic swirl flaps in the intake manifold that become coated in soot and EGR residue over time. Buildup causes rough running, reduced power and error codes. Cleaning costs €300-500 at a specialist. If the manifold needs replacement, expect €800-1,200 including labour. Some owners opt for swirl flap delete kits, though this may affect emissions compliance and TUV/MOT results.
Reliable diesel, but emission system and DPF need regular attention
The B47 engine in the 220d Gran Tourer is a proven unit that can exceed 200,000 km with proper maintenance. The main risks center around the EGR cooler recall, DPF clogging from short-trip use, and gradual emission system wear. For the Aisin automatic, BMW specifies no fixed ATF change interval; independent specialists advise a preventive change at about 60,000-100,000 km. Cars from the March 2018 facelift (LCI) have SCR with AdBlue as standard, adding one more system to monitor. xDrive variants should have their rear differential fluid checked periodically.
Service history
Complete BMW dealer or specialist records essential. BMW uses Condition Based Service: the car calculates when service is due, and in Germany the schedule allows up to 30,000 km or 24 months. Check that services were done on time with BMW LL-04 specification oil.
Tires
Check tread depth, age (date codes) and uneven wear. FWD layout wears fronts faster; xDrive models wear more evenly.
Cold start
Start engine completely cold. No excessive blue or white smoke should persist beyond the first few seconds. No unusual rattling.
Test drive
Minimum 20 minutes including motorway speeds. Observe DPF regeneration behavior and check for power delivery issues.
Specific for this vehicle
Verify EGR cooler recall completed
Give BMW the VIN to check whether the EGR cooler recall applies and has been completed. It addresses a fire risk on B47 diesels. Do not purchase without confirmation.
Check DPF soot level with diagnostic scan
Request a diagnostic readout of DPF soot loading. Levels above 40 grams indicate regeneration problems and potential costly repairs.
Test automatic gearbox shift quality (if equipped)
Drive for 15+ minutes in varied conditions. Feel for jerky shifts, hesitation between 1st and 3rd gears, or delays engaging reverse. Particularly common on xDrive models.
+ 3 more checksShow less
Inspect coolant level and condition
A dropping coolant level with no visible external leak may indicate an EGR cooler leak. Check for discoloration or milky residue.
Ask about driving patterns
A car used primarily for short urban trips is at much higher risk of DPF and EGR problems than one driven regularly on motorways.
Check AdBlue system (LCI models from March 2018)
Look for AdBlue warning messages or countdown indicators. Check the AdBlue level and verify the system has no stored fault codes.
Recalls and Technical Service Bulletins
DDE engine software with improved EGR leak detection (UK campaign, DVSA R/2022/255; lists the 2 Series Gran Tourer built 26 March 2015 to 1 March 2018, diesel engine variants not named)Verify with VIN
Replacement of leaking EGR coolers on some diesel vehicles (UK campaign, DVSA R/2023/172; lists the 2 Series Gran Tourer built 24 February 2015 to 1 March 2018, engine variants not named)Verify with VIN
Defective airbag igniters may stop airbags deploying correctly (EU Safety Gate A12/0036/17, January 2017; the EU record gives 2016 production for the F45 and F46 with no finer dates, so only the VIN shows whether a car is included)Verify with VIN
Takata driver airbag (UK campaign, DVSA R/2023/016; Gran Tourer F46 built 7 November 2014 to 23 June 2017)Verify with VIN
Takata SDI driver airbag, further extension of BMW's Takata campaign (EU Safety Gate A12/02833/24, BMW campaign 0032620300; names the 2 Series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer among many BMW models, production window 2 January 2016 to 12 December 2017 for the whole multi-model campaign)Verify with VIN
Takata driver airbag fitted through a conversion to a Sport or M Sport steering wheel (EU Safety Gate A12/02573/24, KBA 14056R; retrofit campaign naming F45 and F46, it concerns only airbags fitted through such a conversion, not factory-fitted airbags; its 13 March 2003 to 20 June 2018 window spans the whole multi-model campaign and is not a Gran Tourer build window)Verify if applicable
Missing spherical-collar disc at the steering tie-rod end (EU Safety Gate A12/1491/19, BMW campaign 0032890200; lists F45, F46, X1 F48 and X2 F39, overall production window 5 August 2016 to 8 April 2019)Verify with VIN
Faulty microgas generator inside the seat-belt retractor, part of the pyrotechnic pretensioner (EU Safety Gate A12/00976/22; Gran Tourer F46 built 11 January to 2 March 2022)Critical - verify completed
Listed campaigns: the UK EGR campaigns (DVSA R/2022/255 and R/2023/172), the 2016 airbag igniter recall (A12/0036/17), the UK Takata driver airbag campaign (DVSA R/2023/016), the Takata SDI driver airbag extension for 2016-2017 production (A12/02833/24), the Takata steering-wheel retrofit campaign (A12/02573/24), the tie-rod campaign (A12/1491/19) and the 2022 seat-belt retractor recall (A12/00976/22). Give the VIN to a BMW dealer to check which of them apply to the car and whether they have been completed.
Warranty Status
New-car warrantyGermany: 24 months statutory warranty (Gewährleistung), plus BMW's 12-month 2+1 extension for cars from November 2016. UK: three years.
Rust perforation warranty12 years from first registration
Extended warranty availabilityGermany: BMW Repair Inclusive (extended repair-cost cover), BMW Premium Selection Garantie for used cars. UK: BMW Insured Warranty, BMW Approved Used Car Warranty for used cars.
Warranty terms for the BMW 220d Gran Tourer F46 depend on the market where the car was first sold. Check the first registration date and ask whether any extended cover is still in force and transfers to a new owner.
Sources: Research draws on model-specific owner forums and owner communities, recall information from official authorities, German automotive press, and multiple workshop cost references cross-checked against each other.
This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Estimates may be inaccurate. Always have a qualified specialist inspect the vehicle before purchase. We accept no liability for decisions made based on this information.
