Annabelle Clarke

PR Manager

Annabelle Clarke | Author

Eduardo Rodrigues

Content Writer

Claudia Tuñón

Isobel Coughlan

Joseph Law

Bumper Content Writer

Alastair Shephard

The 1 Series was launched in 2004 as the German brand's smallest and cheapest car. It was, however, immediately considered the premium option in the segment, an honour it still holds today. Buyers loved the great handling, much of it shared from the 3 series, and the compact practicality of a hatchback. 

It went from strength to strength, with its popularity never really waning. However, did the 1 series inherit the same German engineering as the larger cars, and are the newest models as reliable as you’d hope?

With a reliability rating of 97% from WhatCar? Magazine, it's safe to say the current generation is pretty reliable. Only 15% of cars involved in the test reported any faults, with 40% of these being fixed for free by BMW, in a day.

As a brand, BMW finished 12th out of 31 manufacturers, placing above the other big German brands: Audi, VW and Mercedes-Benz. 

When a car develops a fault, particularly a safety-related one, the manufacturer will issue a recall, encouraging all owners to bring their car back to the dealer for the issue to be fixed, free of charge. 

You can do a search of what recalls affect your vehicle on the 

, either by searching by make and model, or by number plate. Reassuringly, the 1 Series has very few recalls, and most only affect a small number of cars. 

Camshafts are what open the valves of an engine, allowing the fuel to enter and the exhaust gases to escape. They are driven by the 

, and have bearings to enable them to rotate efficiently.

On a very few cars made in 2021 – 38 to be exact – these bearing holders were not installed correctly. This requires either new bearings, or a new cylinder head – a major engine component – presumably depending on the amount of premature wear the issue has caused. 

A slightly more prevalent issue, affecting just over 1,100 cars, is one relating to the driver's airbag and the design of its cover. The recall wording states that the fabric of the airbag itself could be damaged by the cover upon deployment - a serious issue in the event of a crash.

The issue affected cars made in 2020 and requires a new airbag to be fitted at the dealership.

Incorrect screw material on the rear seat belts

On 38 cars made in 2021, some of the screws used to fasten in the rear seatbelt assembly were not of an acceptable grade material. The remedy is to simply remove and replace the screws with ones of superior quality.

All cars have common faults, be it a design fault, or a weakness that becomes apparent after a certain amount of time and miles. It doesn’t necessarily mean the cars are unreliable, but it does highlight something to look out for should you be buying secondhand. 

A number of owners have complained about issues with incorrect or intermittent dashboard lights on their current generation 1 Series. It’s not clear if this is a sensor problem, an issue with the ECU/wiring to it, or a problem with the dash module itself. 

Many owners reported needing multiple trips to the dealer for software updates and reboots, though the dealership experience was positive for most.

While the previous generation of 1 series was well-famed for its reliability, there is one issue that gets mentioned a lot online, that is, the washer jets becoming blocked all too frequently. 

This is generally resolved by removing them and cleaning through with a narrow cleaning tool, but is not something you’d expect on a BMW, only 5 or so years old!

Because the older generation 1 series is fitted with the same complex type of suspension found in the larger 3 series, owners found their cars consumed suspension bushes and joints faster than they expected. 

Whilst the wear was probably not more than typical for this type of suspension, other cars in the segment use less refined but less complex systems that are more robust at high mileage.

 has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

BMW 1 Series Reliability

First introduced in 1975, the 3 Series is one of BMW’s most popular models. The current generation, the G20 model unveiled in 2018, continues with the same recipe: comfort, driving performance and rear-wheel drive. 

However, with cars becoming more and more complex, is the 3 Series as reliable as we’ve come to expect from BMW? We’ll take a look at some common problems, recalls and discuss if the 3 Series is a good buy in 2025.

The petrol and PHEV versions of the latest 3 Series ranked 2nd in the executive class with a 97.5% reliability score in the 2024 WhatCar? survey, while diesels achieved around 96%. BMW as a brand scored 8th out of 31, which is pretty good!

According to the same WhatCar? survey, the most commonly repaired fault related to the engine or electrics, but BMW paid for 96% of the repairs needed, and fixed nearly 70% of faults in less than a week.

There have been a few recalls on the 3 Series since its launch in 2019; thankfully, any recall work is to be completed by the manufacturer, free of charge. Check to see if your car, or one you're looking at buying, has any outstanding recalls 

On certain vehicles built between 11 March and 9 July 2019, a bearing bushing was not properly installed into the engine's crankcase, whilst only a small part, it requires the engine to be removed and potentially replaced - it’s a good job, recall work is paid for by the manufacturer! 

Even though only 53 cars were affected, it's still worth double-checking any potential car, as the fault can lead to engine failure, which will be extremely inconvenient even if the repair cost is covered!

Certain 3 Series models (made from March–September 2020) had battery pack debris left from welding that could cause short circuits. Affected units may need battery replacement.

Symptoms of this fault could be quite severe, so it’s important to get your car checked. 

’s cooler system may develop a leak. The type of coolant used, mixed with sediment from the EGR system, can cause “ignitable” deposits. 

If your 3 Series was made in 2018, this one is definitely worth checking, as it affected nearly 64,000 cars.

Suspension components rank among the most frequent repairs. Symptoms include uneven ride, steering pull, or audible knocking when braking. This could also be related to the poor condition of UK roads and the G80’s firm suspension.

Fixes include general suspension replacements, such as shocks, suspension arms and bushes.

Many UK owners report occasional iDrive bugs, Bluetooth dropouts, and touchscreen unresponsiveness, which is something we see across all makes and models of modern cars.

Typically, a software update is needed from the dealer, but these things can also be remedied by a system reboot.

Electrical issues include warning lights without a clear cause, central locking or body control faults. A forum post advising people to check battery ground wires got a bit of attention, indicating there are a few common electrical issues.

Despite the few ‘common’ faults listed above, the 3 Series seems to be a very well put-together car. It also receives lots of praise for its driving characteristics, and achieved an impressive Euro NCAP score. 

Residual prices of most BMW models are also strong, which is usually a good indicator of a brand's overall reliability; it also helps with depreciation come trade-in time.

Overall, if you are happy with the slightly elevated repair costs associated with German marques, and the few niggles listed above don’t put you off, the 3 Series is a perfect executive saloon.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his cars, Joseph dreams of owning an A

BMW 3 Series Problems/Reliability Guide

The Polestar 2, promises Scandinavian design, thrilling performance, and a tech-first experience. But as an early-generation luxury EV, it comes with some minor issues.

This guide explores reliability ratings from independent surveys like What Car?, common problems from real-world owners, and important recall information to help you make an informed decision.

What Car?’s 2024 reliability survey ranked the Polestar 2 10th out of 20 electric cars with a score of 89.3%, placing it favourably ahead of models like the Kia EV6 and Porsche Taycan, though behind the Tesla Model 3. 42% of owners reported issues, mostly related to infotainment and electrical systems—but almost all were remedied swiftly and under warranty.

Auto Express’ Driver Power survey ranked the Polestar brand 2nd overall in 2023. The Polestar 2 model itself came 17th out of 75 but 69% of first-year owners reported faults, resulting in a poor 71st-place in reliability rankings.

Recalls are manufacturer-led responses to a common and premature fault on a vehicle; it can be on any part of the car, but they are most often issued when it affects the safety of the vehicle. 

Recalls are fixed by the manufacturer at no cost to the owner/driver of the car. To see if your vehicle is affected, check the 

Inverter Capacitor Terminals Causing Short Circuiting

The terminals of the capacitors found in the inverter module are plated with a tin-coating, likely to reduce electrical resistance. On some models, this plating was found to be defective and could cause short-circuiting or other issues with the inverter. 

This was leading to driving issues and warning lights on the dash. The fix involves replacing the inverter module with a non-affected one. Just under 700 cars were affected, and were all made in 2020. 

On nearly 2,400 cars made in 2021, an issue with the contactors in the battery energy control module. The issue seems to be from the car's software, as the solution to the recall is to update it at the dealership. 

Symptoms of the issue are unexpected and unintentional losses in power, accompanied by warning signs and lights on the dashboard. The fix is free of charge and carried out at a Volvo or Polestar dealership.

One of the most commonly reported issues from UK owners is frequent infotainment glitches, such as touchscreen freezes, audio drop-outs, and system resets. Seemingly, some owners have remedied the fault with a system reset, but others needed intervention from the dealership.

Even after a dealer software update, some owners reported repeated faults occurring.

Similar to the above, another common issue is faults with the antenna module. This connects the car to the internet and, therefore, the Polestar service centres. This means functions such as app control, eCall, GPS, and digital key stopped functioning.

Thankfully, many owners reported that having the module replaced by the dealership solved the issue, so it might be a faulty batch/software version.

Some UK reports echo early shutdowns and limp-mode errors, often requiring recovery services. These may or may not be related to some of the above-mentioned recall issues.

 sudden loss of power from the motor, “Propulsion System Service Required”, and warning lights on the dashboard. Some owners have said that a software update from the dealership helped.

Owners have noticed knocking or clunking noises from the front suspension, especially during braking or on uneven surfaces. Members on a Polestar forum discussed a service bulletin that was issued to replace the strut bearings with upgraded parts. 

It is unclear if this same bulletin was issued in the UK, and if that is the cause of some of the problems, but be sure to keep a lookout for any test drives, and get the seller to sort the issue before you purchase the car.

Data shows mixed reliability. While it’s technologically advanced, fun to drive, and well-appointed, issues with electronics, connectivity, and drivetrain errors are common, especially in early models. 

That said, most of the issues from earlier cars should be ironed out by now, and the later cars seemed to fare much better, making the Polestar 2 a compelling choice. 

Polestar 2 Problems / Reliability Guide

Almost all vans are bought primarily as a tool, a device to get people, materials and tools to and from a job site. Even a quickly-repaired breakdown can cost thousands of pounds in lost work and missed deliveries. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the most reliable vans currently available in the UK.

Many of these long wheelbase vans have a load length of over 4m, and can be specified with the high roof, giving an enormous amount of room. 

The Sprinter is considered the gold standard for LWB vans, with its dependable 2.0 diesel engine and over 1,200kg carrying capacity. In 2024, the Sprinter made no.2 on the most reliable van list, the first time in a decade it didn’t win 1st place!

If diesel feels a little old-fashioned for you, Mercedes offers a fully electric version, with up to 272 miles of range from its 100 or 150w motor. Need even more hauling capacity? The EV version of the Sprinter can tow a 2,000kg trailer, too.

Alongside the Sprinter, the Transit is one of the most common LWB vans in use on UK roads. Between the options of wheelbase, height and bed type, and drivetrain, there are dozens of options available for the Transit, so there’s sure to be one to suit your business’s needs. 

Now available with an 8-speed automatic transmission, replacing the old 6-speed unit, but most are likely to be optioned with the traditional 6-speed manual. 

In addition to the two above, which are also available as short-wheel-base versions, these vans are medium-sized panel vans that give a large amount of space, whilst being easier to park. They are a favourite of tradies and those looking to build a campervan.

In 2024, the Transporter took the top spot for reliability from the Sprinter, in a bold move from second place for a number of years. Its reliability is said to stem from its dependable time-served diesel engines and robust build quality. 

The Transporters of 2025 and onwards will be replaced with badge-engineered Ford Transits, which typically place much lower, so be quick to buy if you’re set on a VW.

Inside the van, the VW has everything you can expect in a modern commercial vehicle, DAB and electric windows as standard, with a whole host of additional safety and convenience features on the higher trim levels. 

As it’s been on our roads now for nearly 25 years, the Vivaro is almost as well-known as the Transit for being a tradesman's van of choice. Since 2019, Vauxhall's partnership with Renault ended, and the new vans were based on a Stellantis design, being shared with 4 other marques.

Despite this cost-cutting measure, the Vivaro still regularly places around 5th in the reliability rankings, strangely 4 places above one of its sister vehicles, the Toyota Proace. Despite the new design looking slightly smaller than the old one, the Vivaro can carry an impressive 1,384kg, and has a choice of two diesel and one electric powertrains.

These small vans are ideal for those needing a dedicated cargo area, but without the need to carry particularly long or large items. Often using the engines and suspension setups from medium-sized passenger cars, they tend to drive better than larger vans, too. 

Landing at number 3 on Fleet News’ reliability ranking, the Caddy is just as reliable as its bigger brother, the Transporter. The current model, released in 2021, is based on the current model of Golf, meaning it offers great ride quality and comfort. 

Payload weight is limited, at only 780kg, but the clever floor design gives a very low floor in the back, making it easier to load heavy items by hand. From the driver's seat, it’s hard to tell you’re in a van, with premium materials, an appealing steering wheel and a usefully large infotainment screen. 

Ford Transit Connect - from £23,500 + VAT

Launching in 2021, the current generation of Transit Connect is a re-badged Volkswagen Caddy, another aspect to the Ford-VW deal we discussed earlier. Styling is, therefore, very similar, with the two being almost indistinguishable from the rear.

This means the new Connect has roughly the same load area, payload and specs as the Caddy, although it is a little cheaper to purchase. One notable difference is the presence of a plug-in hybrid option for the Connect, which is not offered alongside the VW-badged van - something to consider.

Have Your Van Fixed at Zero-Percent interest

Regardless of make, model or size of van, Bumper's 

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The UK’s Most Reliable Vans

How well do you know your popular cars? Who doesn't know their Polos from the Pumas? Or their Corsas from their Qashqais? It's time to find out, as we prepare to play, guess the car from the car part! 

And that concludes our car parts quiz. How did you do? Now that you've finished, count up your points, refresh the page and pass to a friend to see who gets the best score.

QUIZ TIME: Guess the car from the car part

Until a few years ago, the only place you’d see a pickup truck in the UK was on or near a farm. But since various manufacturers started making them more luxurious and comfortable, and their tax status has made them very attractive to business owners, they have exploded in popularity. 

That tax situation has since changed, with double-cab trucks now being classified the same as private vehicles, but this just means the market is great for private buyers. Here are some of the best pickup trucks on sale today. 

Heralded as one of the most reliable vehicles of all time, in part thanks to a classic Top Gear episode, the modern Hilux is a capable, 1-ton carrying pickup that has all the bells and whistles of many modern SUVs. 

The current new model was facelifted in 2020, but has been using the same drivetrain and chassis since 2015, meaning parts should be easily accessible, and the drivetrains and design well tested. It’s available with a 2.4 or a 2.8-litre diesel engine, and can tow 3,500kg.

Its load bed is 1555mm long, which is decent, but not class leading. The Ford Ranger beats it by over two inches, but the Isuzu D-Max extended wheelbase is the truck to get for load bed length at over 1800mm.

The Ranger is one of the UK’s most popular pickups, well reviewed both as a comfortable cruiser and a useful work vehicle. There are quite a few engine options available, ranging from a modest 170hp diesel, up to the most powerful version - the plug-in hybrid. This offers nearly 300hp and an electric-only range of 26 miles. 

The current shape of the Ranger is clearly inspired heavily by the American versions, with large chunky bumpers and quietly flared arches. Something particularly impressive is the generator function of the PHEV Ranger. A standard 3-pin socket in the bed allows the use of small hand tools and charging of power tool batteries.

The astute driver would probably notice that the Amarok is very similar to the Ford Ranger in power and driving dynamics, because they share the same underpinnings. Despite VW’s success with the first-gen Amarok, they paired with Ford to cut costs on the development of the new one - this isn’t a bad thing, though. 

Despite the underneath being similar, the body and interior of the Amarok are completely different. The front and rear aspects are decidedly Volkswagen, with the grille lines blending into the headlight shape. 

Inside, the Amarok features a few more steel-edged controls and leather coverings than the Ranger, but they’re both clearly well-thought-out products. Unsurprisingly, the bed length is around the same as the Ranger at 1600mm give or take. Its carrying capacity is 1130kg.

Unlike the rest of the cars on this list, Isuzu don’t make any passenger vehicles anymore, focusing solely on commercials and pickup trucks. This makes sense when you look at the base “utility” version of the D-max. That said, the DL20 model being discussed here is very much a player in this SUV-like Truck sector.

This is mainly due to its alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay with an 8” touchscreen and a plethora of assist features like a reversing camera, cruise control and tyre pressure monitoring. It still maintains usability, though, especially the extended model with its 1800mm bed length.

The T90EV is currently the only fully electric pickup sold in the UK. It has a claimed range of 200 miles and around 200hp from the single, rear-mounted electric motor. Ride comfort and handling are described as not as good as the competition, but the feature list is reasonably long with things like a backup camera and a large infotainment screen. 

The bed is a reasonable length at 1,485mm and can take a one-ton payload. One of the upsides of having a pickup truck over a van is the off-road capability - unfortunately, due to the T90EV’s rear wheel drive and lack of ground clearance, it’s probably best kept on the road.

A rebrand to KGM should help the Ssangyong’s image, as some may remember previous vehicles such as the Rodius, as being not particularly good or easy on the eye. The New Musso truck, however, is not too bad to look at and comes with some impressive features, for the price. 

The long wheelbase version has a bed of around 1,300mm in length, and can carry over 1,200kg. Inside, there is an infotainment screen, but smaller than those found in the Ranger, etc, flanked by physical buttons, something that could actually be an upgrade, especially for a work truck. 

Once you're sorted and on the road with your pickup, it's essential to keep your new vehicle in top shape with regular maintenance. Thanks to Bumper's 

, you can easily spread the cost of repairs into interest-free monthly payments. Apply online before your visit and choose from 1000s of repairers across the country. 

Best Pickup Trucks on Sale in 2025

If you’ve experienced losing control of your car, you’ll know how unsettling it is, regardless of where it happens and at what speed. 

Whether you've encountered this feeling or are simply trying to avoid it in the future, this article will help you understand the causes and how to avoid them. We’ll also give a brief overview of what to do if you find yourself skidding

What Exactly Is Skidding, And What Causes It?

Skidding is when your car's tyres lose grip with the road surface, and instead of rolling along in the intended direction, slide across the road, either forwards or sideways. 

Skidding can happen on any surface, regardless of its level of friction, and there are very few surfaces, with the right tyres and driving style, where skidding cannot be avoided. 

In most situations on the road, skidding is caused by one of the following situations:

It’s always a dangerous situation to lose control of your vehicle, regardless of how or when it happens, so it’s essential to know how to prevent a skid before it happens.

Excessive braking or harsh inputs to the steering wheel don’t give the tyres enough time to adjust to the desired direction or speed, and as such, can easily cause them to lose traction.

You can see this when watching rally drivers take corners; they use harsh braking and steering to make the rear of the car lose traction, enabling them to take the corner faster. I wouldn’t recommend trying this yourself, though!

The tread on your tyres enables them to grip even through wet or loose surfaces. If you don't replace them when they are worn out, the lack of tread depth will drastically affect their grip.

The law states you should not drive with tyres that have a tread depth below 1.6mm, but the recommended point to change them is 3mm. It’s also important to select the right tyre for your car and driving style.

For more information on tyre types, find the 

For an easy way to break down the cost of tyres, check out our 

If you manage your speed according to the road conditions, it should be possible to avoid skidding. Make sure to leave plenty of space behind the car in front, and slow down more for corners and roundabouts.

Did you know that your car’s stopping distance roughly doubles in the wet? Wet and especially icy roads can have much less grip than dry roads. Similarly, mud or gravel on the road can easily cause a loss of control if not accounted for.

Take into consideration also the type of road you are on; a single-track country lane adjacent to fields is much more likely to have mud and debris on it compared to a main road. Similarly, a road that passes by a building site may well have loose sand or gravel present.

In some cases, the road condition can be unexpectedly poor, or you may need to make an emergency manoeuvre that results in a skid. It’s important to remember the key steps on how to control a skid and minimise the danger:

How To Stop Your Car From Skidding And What To Do If It Does

Thinking about replacing your timing belt (or cambelt) but worried about the cost? It’s one of those jobs you can’t ignore, but you don’t want to overpay either. 

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the cost of a timing belt replacement, what affects it, and how to avoid bigger (and more expensive) problems down the road.

How much should I pay for a timing belt replacement?

In the UK, the average timing belt replacement will set you back somewhere between £300 and £700. That covers the belt plus the cost of labour to strip down the engine and fit the new parts.

If you drive a luxury model or a car with a more complicated internal combustion engine, you can expect the price to climb past £1,000. Not cheap, but trust us, it's worth it to avoid the kind of extensive engine damage that a broken timing belt can cause.

Labour costs, which vary depending on the garage, car, and materials needed.

What factors affect the timing belt replacement cost?

Several things impact what you’ll pay for your timing belt replacement:

Yes, timing belt replacements are expensive, but 

replacing it is much, much worse. Spending a few hundred now on proper maintenance avoids potentially bigger problems later.

If a timing belt breaks while you're driving, you’re looking at:

Compared to that, the average cost of £300–£700 for a timing belt replacement is a no-brainer.

Looking for a smarter way to pay for your timing belt replacement? Bumper’s 0% interest 

 lets you split the cost into easy monthly instalments. Get your car fixed sooner and get back on the road with Bumper!

How do I know if my timing belt needs replacing?

You’ll know it’s time to replace your timing belt if you start to notice any of the following:

It’s best not to leave it until you notice any of these warning signs, though. Instead, replace your timing belt in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations:

How to save money on your timing belt replacement costs

Replacing a timing belt is one of the more expensive maintenance jobs, but there are some nifty ways to reduce the final cost. Here’s how you can lower your timing belt replacement cost and avoid paying more than you need to:

Take control of your car replacement costs with Bumper

Replacing your timing belt is one of the smartest ways to keep your car on the road and your wallet away from expensive engine replacement costs. And with Bumper’s 

, you don’t have to worry about the full cost hitting you all at once. Spread your final bill over 3 to 6 easy monthly payments so you can get back on the road sooner without the stress of waiting around. Apply online or at one of our 5,000+ partner garages – approval takes minutes, so start now!

How much does it cost to replace a timing belt in the UK?

Find all the latest industry news and handiest car repair and service tips on the Bumper Blog. Want to get the Bumper view on something? Let us know and we’ll drop a blog post on it as soon as we can.