2012 BMW 1-Series BMW 1-Series 2012

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2012 BMW 1-Series repairs by problem area

Engine (52%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (4%)

Brakes and Traction Control (2%)

Suspension and Steering (0%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (35%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (7%)

Other (0%)

Chart based on 46 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2012 BMW 1-Series.

2012 BMW 1-Series repair cost distribution

$2500+ (3%)

$1000 - $2499 (14%)

$500 - $999 (14%)

$100 - $499 (11%)

< $100 (57%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 35 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2012 BMW 1-Series 2dr Coupe

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 7-speed automated manual RWD

BMW 1-Series in Tennessee, United States
Nov 2014 - Jan 2017
Sep 2015

41000 mi
Replace water pump 
BMW 1-Series in Arizona, United States
Jul 2015 - Jul 2015
Jul 2015

39000 mi

US $600
Have had to take car in about 3 times now for transmission issues 
BMW 1-Series in Texas, United States
Jul 2011 - Aug 2013
Dec 2012

20000 mi
Headlights 
BMW 1-Series in California, United States
Jun 2013 - Aug 2015
Aug 2015

41000 mi
RPMs would drop below acceptable levels with A/C on during normal driving as car approached idle. Engine would almost stall, but ECU would blip throttle and eventually stabilize RPMs. Small section of rear bumper paint cracked (no impact, scratch, etc...). 
BMW 1-Series in California, United States
Nov 2015 - Oct 2019
Feb 2016

60000 mi

US $50
Draw on the starter system caused car to not start. Dealer misdiagnosed as battery, car wouldn't start after battery was replaced. Covered under CPO. Dealer took slightly over 3 days to remedy. First and last service with Weatherford BMW. 
Mar 2017

75000 mi

US $2500
Complete water pump failure. 2nd time this car has left me stranded. Water pump replaced, along with thermo and some hoses. $2500. I love this car but no longer trust it *at all*. 

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2012 BMW 1-Series 2dr Coupe

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD

BMW 1-Series in New York, United States
Mar 2015 - Mar 2016
Nov 2015

42900 mi

US $2000
Oil leak, oil pan replaced 
BMW 1-Series in Washington, United States
Mar 2014 - Jun 2022
May 2014

31000 mi
Passenger seat switches broken; would not return to center position so seat would keep moving. Had to order part. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) "Inactive" warning light comes on intermittently while driving. Dealer confirmed fault code 6059, cleared the code, checked tire pressures, and reset the system. 
Jun 2014

35000 mi
TPMS "Inactive" warning comes on intermittently while driving. Dealer confirmed fault code 6059 and found both rear TPM sensors are not reading. Replaced both rear TPM sensors. Passenger seat switches broken; dealer replaced seat controls. 
Feb 2016

60000 mi
Engine overheating. Replaced water pump. Stalling while coasting in neutral at low speed with A/C on. Software update performed (SIB 12 09 12). 
Dec 2016

71000 mi
Coolant leaking from overflow tank Oil leak from oil filter housing gasket 
May 2020

115 mi

US $2100
Oil leak repairs: Valve cover replaced; turbocharger oil drain line replaced. 
BMW 1-Series in Washington, United States
Feb 2012 - Dec 2014
Apr 2012

1700 mi
combox was replaced 
May 2013

16000 mi
Replace idrive computer display 
BMW 1-Series in Illinois, United States
Jul 2011 - Jun 2018
Nov 2011

3000 mi
Tail light had an electrical problem, needed to be replaced. 

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2012 BMW 1-Series 2dr Coupe

230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD

BMW 1-Series in Vermont, United States
Dec 2015 - Sep 2016
Apr 2016

23500 mi
My engine was self destroying itself, lower end bearings are shot. Few months out of warranty and BMW would not cover anything, I'm gonna need a a whole new engine at 20k. 
BMW 1-Series in New Jersey, United States
Nov 2011 - Dec 2014
Nov 2012

12600 mi
Very rough intermittant idle at start up and occasionally at stop lights/signs. 
Sep 2013

25000 mi
Faulty electronic thermostat set off CEL. 
BMW 1-Series in Washington, United States
Aug 2012 - Jun 2022
Sep 2013

10000 mi
reset auto detect wipers. Also did first oil change and annual inspection. No other issues in first 10K miles. 
Dec 2014

27000 mi
Brake wear indicator on dash showed service about due. Brakes were fine so computer reset. Oil change completed as well. 
Mar 2016

38000 mi

US $571
Replaced one elec coil 
Apr 2017

47500 mi

US $800
Replaced failing coil. Second coil to fail of 6 so I replaced all remaining coils with new type. Also did spark plugs proactively since they are due in the next 5000 miles or so 
Apr 2020

65000 mi

US $400
Routine service with fluid change. 
Aug 2020

67000 mi

US $200
Replaced one coil for second time. 
Dec 2021

71000 mi

US $1100
Replaced Vanos sensor  and one coil. 

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2012 BMW 1-Series 2dr Coupe

230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD

BMW 1-Series in Massachusetts, United States
Jul 2011 - Nov 2015
Mar 2013

15000 mi
Engine was misfiring under acceleration when extremely cold (8deg. F) a few months ago. Replaced VANOS solenoid(s) under warranty. 
Sep 2014

31000 mi

US $750
Replaced cracked horizontal tail light, covered by per service bulletin. 
Jun 2015

36000 mi
Radio channel selector knob had broken. Entire radio was replaced. Battery was reading low occasionally. Dealer verified that the battery was too old (at almost 4 years) and replaced it. 
BMW 1-Series in Massachusetts, United States
Aug 2017 - Sep 2017
Jun 2017

35000 mi

US $1500
The controller to pop the trunk went bad and was replaced. 
BMW 1-Series in Arizona, United States
Dec 2012 - Feb 2014
Jun 2013

11000 mi
driver side window operated erratically. motor replaced. rear speakers had periods of intense static. replaced radio. 

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2012 BMW 1-Series 2dr Convertible

turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 7-speed automated manual RWD

BMW 1-Series in California, United States
Oct 2012 - Oct 2014
Jan 2014

22300 mi
Hesitation. Missing. Chronic problem 
BMW 1-Series in Virginia, United States
Oct 2015 - Apr 2018
Oct 2017

46000 mi

US $450
ROTORS WARPED AND WORN. NEW OEM ROTORS AND PADS 

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2012 BMW 1-Series 2dr Convertible

230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD

BMW 1-Series in Washington, United States
May 2015 - Jun 2018
May 2017

32630 mi

US $1411
Eccentric Shaft Position Sensor failure 
BMW 1-Series in Florida, United States
Feb 2015 - Dec 2016
Jul 2016

28500 mi

US $50
ignition coils replaced under extended warranty 
BMW 1-Series in Massachusetts, United States
May 2015 - Jun 2018
Dec 2015

32000 mi

US $900
Valve gasket cover breached 
Dec 2017

54600 mi

US $300
Remove and replace oil filter adaptor 

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2011.5 BMW 1-Series 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 134hp 1.6L I4 8-speed shiftable automatic RWD

BMW 1-Series in Finland
Dec 2012 - Oct 2014
May 2014

27320 mi

€170
Clog in the system, no parts needed. Cleaning and warning light and TSB reset. 
Oct 2014

32240 mi

€250
Cooling liquid leak. 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Hatchbacks
See TrueDelta's information for all BMW models.

2012 BMW 1-Series Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2012 BMW 1-Series problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.