Used BMW X1 Parts: Match the Generation First

The most important thing to know before you look for a used BMW X1 part is which generation you have. The first X1 (E84) and the second (F48) look similar from a distance, but BMW describes the 2015 car as using "completely new powertrain and chassis technology", so most mechanical parts do not swap between them. Within the second generation, the drivetrain matters too: some versions are front-wheel drive, others all-wheel drive.

The X1 is a common car here. When BMW South Africa launched the second generation in November 2015, it said more than 730,000 first-generation X1s had been sold worldwide, "more than 7,000 in South Africa" (BMW Group PressClub South Africa, 24 November 2015).

The two X1 generations this guide covers

	First generation (E84)	Second generation (F48)
On sale	From 2009	South African launch November 2015
Layout	—	Transversely mounted four-cylinder engines; front-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive
SA launch engines	—	Two petrol, one diesel, all four-cylinder, 100 to 170 kW
Gearboxes at SA launch	—	Six-speed manual (sDrive18i, sDrive20d), six-speed Steptronic (sDrive18i), eight-speed Steptronic (standard on all xDrive models)

The generation codes are the ones BMW South Africa's own press releases are filed under: E84 for the first generation (BMW Group PressClub South Africa, December 2013) and F48 for the second. The 2009 launch date and the description of the new car's transverse engines and front-wheel-drive option come from BMW's UK launch release (BMW Group PressClub UK, June 2015). We have left the first generation's engine line-up out of the table because we could not confirm South African specifications from a BMW source.

Why the generation decides the part

Because BMW moved the second-generation X1 onto new powertrain and chassis technology, engine, gearbox, suspension and drivetrain parts from one generation should be treated as not fitting the other. That includes many of the parts people most often need after a breakdown or an accident: engines, gearboxes, front suspension, cooling packs and driveshafts.

Within the second generation, check the drive layout as well. BMW South Africa says the sDrive20i uses a front-wheel-drive construction already used in the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, while xDrive models send drive to both axles through an electro-hydraulically controlled multi-plate clutch. An xDrive car has driveline parts, such as the rear drive, that an sDrive car does not.

Gearbox parts: check which box you have

At its South African launch the second-generation X1 came with three different gearboxes depending on the model: a six-speed manual, a six-speed Steptronic automatic on the sDrive18i, and an eight-speed Steptronic as standard on all xDrive models. BMW described both the manual and the eight-speed automatic as new developments.

Parts that wear on any X1

Like any BMW of its age, an older X1 will need the parts that wear with time and mileage, including those in the cooling and fuel systems. Our guides to the BMW cooling system and to BMW fuel pumps and injectors explain how those systems work and what fails. Body parts, lights and mirrors are also commonly needed after accident damage, and they are generation-specific too.

What to send us for X1 parts

To match an X1 part first time, send:

1. the year and the model badge (for example sDrive18i or sDrive20i),
2. whether it is manual or automatic,
3. the VIN from your licence disc or windscreen, and
4. a photo of the part you need, with any number on it.

Then send your request from our used BMW parts page.