Used BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 2014-present reliability
Category: MPV
With a practical interior and good driving manners, the 2 Series Active Tourer is a fine five-seater MPV.
What should I look for in a used BMW 2 Series estate?
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.
Being a family car, the interior of the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer could have been given a hard time, so check that there are no stains or wear of the upholstery caused by child seats. Check that lids to storage bins work as they should and that the seats still slide forwards and backwards. Inspect top of the rear bumper, too, which may have been scratched by items being dragged in and out of the boot.
Also, check the alloy wheels for scrapes and grazes caused by drivers who park too close to kerbs, possibly as they off-load their offspring.
What are the most common problems with a used BMW 2 Series estate?
There aren’t that many issues with the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer. The usual problems would be a blocked diesel particulate filter (DPF) on diesel models that don’t often venture onto the motorway, where the DPF is able to clean and regenerate itself at higher speeds. If you are unsure, ask how the previous owner has used the car.
There have been some issues with the spring-loaded plastic flaps in the boot. The floor panel is prone to coming detached, requiring you to lift the flaps up to put it back in place, and sometimes these flaps can shear, causing bits of plastic to break off if it is not clipped back correctly.
Is a used BMW 2 Series estate reliable?
Our data suggests the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is a reliable car. In our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, it ranked 12th out of 29 cars in the family car class. Its reliability rating was 92.6%.
With the above in mind, the 2 Series Active Tourer is more reliable than the 2013-2020 VW Golf and current Mazda 3, but not as reliable as the BMW 1 Series and Toyota Corolla.
The most common Active Tourer complaint was interior trim of which 9.1% of surveyed owners experienced problems with. Non-engine electrics and infotainment issues were cited by 4.5% (each) of owners, too.
As a car brand, BMW ranked 12th out of 32 manufacturers. Its overall reliability rating was 93.0%, placing it above Audi and Mercedes, but below Lexus and Volvo.
