Ranked #81 car in the UK · Coupe · 8,819 units sold last year

BMW 2 Series

The BMW 2 Series Coupe (F22 to 2021, G42 2021 on) is the compact rear-drive two-door - the spiritual heir to the old 1 Series Coupe and a rare small, traditional BMW. Petrol, diesel and mild-hybrid sixes and fours give strong pace, and the rear-drive chassis is a genuine driver's delight. Snug in the back but huge fun up front, with the M240i a properly quick pocket-rocket.

How these figures are sourced the valuation is anchored to a researched used-market price for this model (AutoTrader median, 2023 at 30k miles). Reliability, mileage and variant data are real DVSA MOT records. Dimensions, tyre sizes and costs, servicing figures and the insurance group are segment-level estimates rather than sourced per car, and are being replaced model by model.

BMW 2 Series
Photo: Alexander Migl via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Body
Coupe
Years
2018–2026
Fuel
Petrol / Diesel / Mild Hybrid
Economy
42 mpg

combined

Insurance
Group 35

The short version

37/100

Forecourt score

Value 49 · Insurance 14 · catalogue percentiles

The BMW 2 Series holds its value about averagely and is dearer to run than most. Its MOT-based reliability is good — an MOT score of 77/100, ahead of 77% of the cars we track. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 49% of models.

The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20) — the from-new ownership picture. Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.

Pick your version

Fuel

Petrol · 1998cc

Power

184 ps

Drivetrain

RWD

Cam drive

Chain

Quoted MPG

42 mpg

The volume 2-Series Coupe. 2.0L turbo, 184 PS, RWD, 8-speed auto. M Sport spec standard — no SE option. 7.5s 0-62. The sensible default coupe.

Tell us about the one you're looking at

2023
20182026
24,363 mi
0Expected: 24,363180k
good
PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.

Remembered as you browse other cars.

Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.

Estimated market value

How we got this number — click for the breakdown, or to challenge it.

£26,900

Range £22,800£31,300

medium confidence

When new (2023)circa £48,000Age-based value£28,709Mileage adjustment+£0Condition & region+£18Market calibration-£177Forecourt price£28,550Private sale£25,250Part-exchange£22,200
Waitthis 3-year-old

Still shedding value quickly — buying older saves the most.

At 24,363 miles it’s about the ~25,850 typical for a 3-year-old.

Seen one for sale?

£

It keeps shedding value across the ages we track, though a 8-year-old one is down to about 12% a year from 15%. An older example (a ~2018 plate) is the cheaper entry.

A data-led guide from the depreciation curve, UK parc trend and reliability — not financial advice.

The depreciation curve

How a 2023-registration BMW 2 Series loses value over time.

What it costs to own

Over

Based on the 2023 car with 24,363 miles you entered above — worth about £26,900 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 8,121 miles a year.

5-year total

£21,211

Per year

£4,242

All-in per mile

£0.52

Fuel per mile

16.2p

If a company carAround £624/mo Benefit-in-Kind tax at the 40% rate (£312/mo at 20%) — 35% band

Depreciation£6,232
Fuel / energy£6,559
Servicing£2,570
Road tax£1,000
Insurance£4,850

If you're a company-car driver

At 35% BIK, a 40% taxpayer would pay about £624/month in company-car tax (£312/month at 20%) — on top of the running costs above. Full BIK table below for context.

Best age to buy — around 5 years

A 5-year-old example loses roughly £4,000 a year — 53% less than the £8,450 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.

Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.

How it compares

Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.

Holds its valuebetter than 49%
Fuel economybetter than 56%
Cheap to insurebetter than 14%

Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV?

How the available versions compare on price, running cost, and the headaches each tends to develop.

220i / 220d / 230i (4-cyl)

The sensible coupe choices. 220i is the volume seller; 230i adds 60 PS for an extra £4-5k. 220d makes sense only if you do 15k+ motorway miles. M Sport spec standard means no cheap entry to the range.

New price
circa £41,000
Annual fuel / energy
£1,800
3-yr depreciation
49%

Watch for

  • ·B47 diesel timing chain on pre-2020 cars (G42 timing not affected from launch)
  • ·iDrive 8 freezes on early G42 (pre-2023 cars)
  • ·Run-flat tyre harshness on UK potholed roads

M240i xDrive (straight-six)

Most fun coupe under £60k bar the M2 itself. Straight-six soundtrack, xDrive in case it rains. Used residuals strong — these will retain value better than M Sport 4-cylinders. The 2-Series that justifies the lineup.

New price
circa £56,000
Annual fuel / energy
£2,100
3-yr depreciation
47%

Watch for

  • ·B58 cooling system pumps at 60k+ miles (typical of B58s across the range)
  • ·Front tyre wear quick when driven enthusiastically
  • ·Cosmetic: cerium grey trim shows polishing marks

Fuel/energy costs based on this week’s UK averages (w/c 03/08/2026) · Petrol 159.9p/L, Diesel 179.2p/L, Electricity 27.0p/kWh · DESNZ

Estimated insurance

Group 35 of 50 (upper-mid — pricier to insure) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB

Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.

3 years
0 yearsBaseline: 3 years15+
Risk profile:

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39

£970/ year

Roughly £81 per month

Typical

Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.
Age bandLower riskTypicalHigher risk
Age 17-25£2,212£2,765£3,594
Age 26-32£1,154£1,358£1,657
Age 33-39Selected£854£970£1,145
Age 40-49£725£805£934
Age 50+£646£718£847

How we estimate this

Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.

Expected annual costs

Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).

8,121 mi/yr
2,000UK avg for this model: 8,12130,000

Routine service

£290

Annual main-dealer service

Major service

£280

Every 2 years, annualised

Road tax

£200

Standard rate, post year-one

Fuel

£593

42 mpg, £1.60/L

Insurance

£970

Age 33-39, group 35

Clean-air zones

ULEZ compliant
  • All petrol variants meet Euro 4 standards and are ULEZ compliant.
  • All diesel variants meet Euro 6 standards and are ULEZ compliant.

Based on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.

Total expected£2,333 / year

Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).

Unexpected costs

What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.

0-30k miles

£120

per year · low risk

30-60k miles

£360

per year · low risk

60-100k miles

£780

per year · medium risk

100k+ miles

£1,350

per year · high risk

Tyres

235/40 R18 · 245/35 R19

What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 15,000 miles.

Budget

£400

set of 4, fitted · £85 per tyre

Mid-range

£580

set of 4, fitted · £130 per tyre

Premium

£840

set of 4, fitted · £195 per tyre

What to fit

Optional extras worth paying for

Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.

OptionNew costAdded used valueReturn

Tow bar (factory-fit)

Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it.

£650£45069%

Parking sensors & reversing camera

Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns.

£500£30060%

Heated seats / cold-weather pack

£450£20044%

Adaptive / matrix LED headlights

£900£40044%

Metallic or premium paint

Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk.

£600£20033%

Panoramic / opening roof

£1,100£35032%

Advanced driver-assistance pack

£1,500£45030%

Larger alloy wheels

£700£20029%

Premium sound system

£800£20025%

Parts most likely to fail

Drawn from owner reports and warranty data. Filtered for relevance to 24,363 miles.

Watch now

Failure typically happens around your current mileage.

Upcoming

A known weak point — but you haven't reached its usual mileage yet.

Already due

Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.

Tyres & wheelsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £80-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 7.2% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 927,762 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

SuspensionUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£450medium severityParts high

Recorded in 6.1% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 927,762 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Lighting & signallingUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £15-£120low severityParts high

Recorded in 4.0% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 927,762 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

BrakesUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 3.3% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 927,762 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Driver's viewUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £60-£300low severityParts high

Recorded in 1.9% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 927,762 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

EmissionsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£800medium severityParts high

Recorded in 0.6% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 927,762 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.

MOT outlook

How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 964,843 real DVSA test records.

MOT pass rate by age

A 3-year-old 2 Series passes its MOT 89.8% of the time; by 22 years that has slipped to 80%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.

Longevity

96%of 8-year-old examples are still taxed and on the road — a useful read on how well the model lasts.

From 21,835 vehicles registered in 2018.

Survival by registration year

93%95%98%100%20182022

Each point is one registration cohort. Older cars on the left, newer on the right. A flatter line means the model holds up over time; a steep drop means cohorts disappear from UK roads faster.

What’s on the road

The fuel-type split of every 2 Series with MOT history in the DVSA record. From 192,292 vehicles tested at least once - not the number on the road today, which is lower.

  • Petrol 61.2%
  • Diesel 27.0%
  • Hybrid 11.3%

What fails at the first MOT

The defect categories a 2 Series registered 2020–2023 fails on at its first MOT, from 40,080 first tests. Every car here is the same age and the same generation, so these are the faults that show up first - not the wear a high-mileage older example collects.

  • Tyres & wheels6.0%
  • Brakes0.7%
  • Driver's view0.7%
  • Lighting & signalling0.5%
  • Seat belts & restraints0.4%
  • Identification & other0.2%

Share of first MOT tests recording at least one defect in that category. DVSA test-item categories, not parts: “Driver’s view” covers mirrors, wipers and glass.

Typical mileage by age

The average odometer reading for a 2 Series at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.

  • 3 yr25,850
  • 4 yr33,111
  • 5 yr40,157
  • 6 yr47,488
  • 7 yr55,174
  • 8 yr63,106
  • 9 yr70,601
  • 10 yr76,974
  • 11 yr82,843
  • 12 yr91,442
  • 13 yr116,350
  • 14 yr126,859

Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records. Ages below three are not shown: the first MOT is due at three years, so the few cars tested earlier are a self-selected minority rather than a representative sample. Ages with at least 10 tests shown.

Reliability

77/ 100

Good

First-MOT pass rate and defect rate for cars registered 2020 onward (40,080 first tests), with cohort survival — high confidence.

MOT outlook · age 5 years

88%first-time pass rate

77th percentileBetter than most comparable cars

Based on 135,967 MOT tests · ranked against 248 catalogue models with comparable data

Where this car sits in the catalogue

0%50%90%

Pass-rate distribution across 248 catalogue models

Things owners say

  • 01The M240i straight-six is the keen-driver's pick; the 220i/220d suit everyday use.
  • 02Rear-wheel drive (xDrive optional) makes it one of the more engaging small coupes around.
  • 03Rear seats and boot are tight - this is a two-plus-occasional, not a family car.

Safety recalls

Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the BMW 2 Series, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Theft risk

A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.

Whole-car theft

Higher

Higher-value cars like this are relay-theft targets — keyless entry can be exploited from the driveway in under a minute.

Parts theft

Higher

Hybrid versions are a catalytic-converter target — a hybrid cat is rich in precious metals and can be cut out in about a minute.

Worth doing

  • Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
  • A catalytic-converter guard or forensic marking makes a hybrid far less appealing to cut.
  • A visible steering lock is a cheap, strong deterrent on a frequently-targeted car.

Clean-air zones

Whether driving a BMW 2 Series into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.

Charging zones for cars

CityAreaDaily chargeLikely outcome
LondonAll of Greater London (within the M25)£12.50
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
BirminghamInside the A4540 Middleway£8.00
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
BristolCity centre and part of the Portway£9.00
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
GlasgowCity centre
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
EdinburghCity centre
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
AberdeenCity centre
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
DundeeCity centre
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.

Zones that don't charge private cars

  • BathCity centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
  • BradfordOuter ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
  • SheffieldInside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
  • Newcastle & GatesheadCity centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
  • PortsmouthPart of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).

Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.

Company car tax

What HMRC's Benefit-in-Kind charge looks like if you ran this BMW 2 Series as a company car, by tax year and income-tax band. Calculated from a CO₂ of 145 g/km and a WLTP electric range of 52 miles, using £53,500 as the P11D value.

Tax yearBIK %Tax @ 20%Tax @ 40%Monthly @ 20%Monthly @ 40%
2025-2634%£3,638£7,276£303£606
2026-2735%£3,745£7,490£312£624
2027-2836%£3,852£7,704£321£642
2028-2936%£3,852£7,704£321£642
2029-3036%£3,852£7,704£321£642

P11D value is approximated from the latest new price; the exact figure on your tax code will depend on options fitted. The 4% diesel surcharge applies only to non-RDE2 (pre-2021) diesels — we assume RDE2 compliance for current models. Bands and rates from HMRC's Autumn Budget 2024 confirmation through 2029/30.

Servicing & the dealer network

How well-supported BMW is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.

Franchised UK dealers

~145

Large network

Premium mainstream

Network size relative to the UK's largest (BMW is 3.2% of all franchised outlets)

Servicing, parts and warranty work are easy to find UK-wide, and most independent garages know the brand well — which keeps maintenance competitive.

For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.

Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.

Dimensions & weight

These are segment estimates, not manufacturer figures. 296 of 325 catalogued cars share one of 14 identical dimension sets, so they describe a class rather than this particular car. Sourced figures replace them model by model.

Length

4,400 mm

Width

1,850 mm

Height

1,300 mm

Kerb weight

1,500 kg

Boot

280–320 L

Fuel tank

48 L

How many are still out there

How the UK BMW 2 Series fleet splits: taxed and on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, and gone from the register where that figure is available.

Currently registered

147,571

Currently taxed & on road

145,348

98% of all registered

SORN (off road)

2,223

2% of all registered

Scrapped or exported

n/a

not in this DfT extract

UK fleet trend — 2014 to 2025

+6% vs 2024
4,757145,348

Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 29 Jul 2026

Same underpinnings

Built on the BMW FAAR / UKL platform

Front-wheel-drive transverse-engine platform for BMW's smaller models, also shared with current Mini. Different badges, often substantially different residuals, but broadly the same mechanicals and repair cost profile.

BMW Front-wheel-drive Architecture · BMW

Common questions

BMW 2 Series, answered from the data

Is the BMW 2 Series reliable?
The BMW 2 Series scores 77/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure, ahead of 77% of the cars we track. That is computed from 964,843 real DVSA MOT test results.
How much does a used BMW 2 Series cost?
A 2023 BMW 2 Series with around 24,363 miles is worth roughly £26,900 today (typical range £24,300–£29,500). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
How quickly does the BMW 2 Series depreciate?
A new BMW 2 Series typically loses about 40% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
What insurance group is the BMW 2 Series?
The BMW 2 Series sits in insurance group 35 of 50 — the more expensive end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
What goes wrong on a used BMW 2 Series?
The most common age-related issues we track for the BMW 2 Series are: tyres & wheels (typically around over 100k miles, £80-£500 to put right); suspension (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£450 to put right); lighting & signalling (typically around over 100k miles, £15-£120 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
What does the BMW 2 Series cost to run?
Expect around 42 mpg combined on the 220i M Sport, £200 a year in road tax, about £290 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.
Is the BMW 2 Series ULEZ compliant?
Most petrol BMW 2 Seriess from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.
How many BMW 2 Seriess are on UK roads?
About 145,348 BMW 2 Seriess are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.

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