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BMW 1 Series

WBAUE120Stock varies — page stays live

The facelifted (LCI) European E87 120i introduced the direct-injection N43 engine with Auto Start-Stop and Brake Energy Regeneration, pushing output to 170 horsepower with improved fuel efficiency.

Engine
N43B20 2.0L High Precision Injection Inline-4
Displacement
1,995 cc
Drive
2WD (FR)
Gearbox
6MT / 6AT
Fuel
Petrol
Body
Hatchback
BMW 1 Series WBAUE120BMW 1 Series — representative 1st Gen (E87 LCI) image

Chassis variants of the 1 Series

WBAUF120N46B20 2.0L Valvetronic Inline-41,995 ccFR6MT / 6AT
WBAUE120N43B20 2.0L High Precision Injection Inline-41,995 ccFR6MT / 6AT
WBAUE320N46N 2.0L Valvetronic Inline-41,995 ccFR6AT

Dimensions & shipping volume

Length
4,239 mm
Width
1,748 mm
Height
1,421 mm
Weight
1,375 kg
Shipping volume
10.53 M³

Manufacture year vs. registration year

Japanese paperwork shows the first registration date, but African customs count age from the month of manufacture. Verify with the chassis serial before purchase:

Serial prefixProduction periodSeries
UE11/UE12XXXXXXMar 2007 – Jun 2011LCI European Specification with N43 Engine

Import eligibility by country (2007–2011)

KenyaNot eligible
8-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.
UgandaNot eligible
15-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.
TanzaniaEligible
No age ban; vehicles over 10 years pay additional excise duty.
ZambiaEligible
No age limit; surtax applies to vehicles older than 5 years.
MalawiEligible
No age limit; duty calculated on cc and age band.

Common questions about the WBAUE120

What is the primary difference between WBAUF120 and WBAUE120?
The WBAUE120 is the facelifted (LCI) model featuring the direct-injection N43 engine with 170 hp, cosmetic updates (revised bumpers and headlights), and high-quality interior revisions, compared to the 150 hp N46 engine in the pre-LCI WBAUF120.
Are the N43 fuel injectors a known failure point?
Yes, the piezo-electric fuel injectors on the direct-injection N43 engine are notoriously prone to failure, often causing engine misfires, rough idling, and poor fuel economy.