Used BMW 2 Series review and buying guide (2014 to 2021): which one to buy and what to check

Which used BMW 2 Series should you buy?

An automatic 2 Series with paperwork for its EGR and engine recall work is the safer buy, whichever body you pick. Diesels were caught up in two 2018 recalls for an EGR cooler that could leak and posed a fire risk, plus a B47 service action that meant new software or a new EGR valve, so a car that's had that done has at least had the fire-risk work carried out.

Manual Active Tourers are where the clutch reports gather. Three owners of 2015 cars had clutches fail, two of them taking the dual-mass flywheel with it, and two failed at just 5,500 and 7,500 miles. It isn't a rated known fault, but it's enough to lean towards the automatic, and that's the gearbox the Gran Tourer's liked for anyway.

The Coupe, sold from 2014 to 2020, and the Convertible, from 2015, are the driver's cars, while the Active Tourer (2014 to 2021) and the Gran Tourer are the practical ones. There's little on record against the Convertible, which isn't the same as a clean record, so check it as hard as the rest. Water getting into the rear lights has turned up on more than one Coupe.

Which 2 Series engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

No 2 Series engine has a clean record, so the choice comes down to which risk you can check. On the diesels, the EGR system's the weak point: besides the recalls, one 220d owner had a new EGR valve in 2016 and paid £470 for another in 2019, £99 of it for diagnosis, and a 2015 220d needed an EGR valve 3,700 miles after its recall cooler went in.

The 1.5 three-cylinder petrol in the 218i got a 2016 dealer bulletin to replace its crankshaft bearings, a three-day job, and one 2015 218i SE was given a new short engine free after faulty bearing shells turned up. Ask for proof that work's been done. One owner's 2016 218i had its timing chain fail at 26,000 miles, and another's odd cold-start noise was cured by reprogramming the engine's control unit.

If a 2014 or 2015 petrol turns out to have the N13 1.6 turbo, its timing chain, guides and tensioner are a High-rated known fault between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, and a chain that jumps bends valves. Likewise, if a diesel turns out to be the N47 2.0, its chain sits at the back of the engine with no fixed change interval, and it stretches and can snap, so listen there for a rhythmic scrape from cold.

The automatic's the gearbox to have, but it isn't maintenance free. BMW calls the ZF unit sealed for life, yet ZF itself sets fluid and filter changes, and the interval on record is 60,000 miles or 96 months, so ask whether it's been done on a car past either. One M235i auto owner reported a whine in first and second, with a hesitation as it changed between them.

What should you check when viewing a used 2 Series?

Insist on starting the engine yourself from cold and listen at both ends: a rattle at the front, a rhythmic scrape at the back, or a drivetrain warning with the engine light on all point at the timing chain. Then ask for the recall paperwork, meaning the EGR cooler work on a diesel and the crankshaft bearing job on a 1.5 petrol, plus receipts for any EGR valve.

Keep an eye on the dash during the drive. Owners have reported the electric parking brake failing, a warning to secure the vehicle that wouldn't clear on an Active Tourer, and the emergency braking slamming on with nothing ahead, once from 50 mph. Turn the wheel at low speed too: a creak when it's first moved, a noisy front strut top bearing and a snapped anti-roll bar have all been reported.

Brakes wear fast on some cars. One Active Tourer needed its second pair of front discs by 22,000 miles, another wanted pads front and rear at 26,000, and one owner paid £275 for rear pads at 17,100. On a Coupe, look inside the rear lights for water; one owner's on a fourth set. In an Active Tourer, lift the boot floor flaps gently, as their mountings can shear and flick out a sharp fragment.

Try the iDrive screen, Connected Drive and the tyre pressure warning, since owners have had each fail or play up. On an M240i, look at the radiator: one report calls it flimsy and says a stone strike can burst it. On a 225xe plug-in, check the electric range the dash shows when fully charged; one owner's showed well under what was claimed and dropped quickly.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used BMW 2 Series cost to run?

What do 2 Series owners like about them?

The Active Tourer mixes comfort with everyday practicality, and its cabin's built from materials that feel a cut above. The Gran Tourer's quiet and comfortable on the move, with a practical interior that's got a few luxurious touches. The Gran Tourer's 8-speed automatic slurs through its changes smoothly, which suits the relaxed way it goes down the road.

The Coupe's one of the best-looking shapes BMW's made, and the M235i pairs strong pace with an engine that sounds great. The Convertible handles sharply and its controls feel just right, yet the ride stays comfortable rather than harsh. Inside, the cabin's finished to a high standard, so it doesn't feel like a cut-price way into a BMW.

• The 2 Series Active Tourer offers an excellent blend of comfort and practicality for owners.
• The car features top-drawer build quality and high-quality materials throughout its construction.
• Optional electric memory driver and passenger seats are an important feature for some buyers.
• An electric tailgate is standard on all 2-Series Active Tourers, which is a beneficial feature for many buyers.
• The 2 Series achieved a 5-Star Euro NCAP Safety Rating under the 2014 system, with strong occupant protection scores.