Engine: All engines have timing chains: so far, the newer ones appear to be free of the tensioner problems that plagued pre-facelift ones, in particular the diesels. For peace of mind, only buy a car with a full service history and verifiable oil and filter changes.
Gearbox: Premature clutch failure has been reported on some models. Even healthy manual gearboxes have a springy and notchy change action, but anything worse is best avoided.
Steering, suspension and brakes: Check for knocking sounds when you turn the steering wheel, a problem likely to be caused by uneven wear of the rack teeth. Water ingress, a problem recorded on some cars, can short-circuit the steering system or cause a warning light to show. Listen for rear suspension noises possibly caused by faulty dampers or mounting bushes. Check the brake fluid has been changed regularly and that discs and pads have reasonable life remaining, because genuine replacements are expensive.
Interior: Make sure the iDrive system is free of glitches and the USB connections work. Rattling door trim is a common problem and difficult to resolve.
Body and wheels: Leaf debris in the bulkhead drains can block them, causing rain to soak the electrics. Larger wheels are prone to kerbing and expensive to repair.
Recalls: There have been a number of recalls relating to issues ranging from a faulty driver’s backrest and failure of the propshaft universal joint to power steering failure and a clutch problem resulting in loss of drive.
