Powertrain families
B38/B48 petrol · B37/B47 diesel · 225xe plug-in hybrid
2 Series (F45/F46) — Gran Tourer
2014–2021
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- F46
- Production
- 2014–2021
- Body style
- 5-door MPV · 5–7 seats
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
2 Series → F45/F46 → Gran Tourer
2 Series F45/F46: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected gran tourer fits into the family.
F45 Active Tourer was BMW's first series-production front-wheel-drive model. Its transverse engine, high seating position, sliding rear bench and five-seat body were engineered for interior efficiency rather than sharing the rear-drive layout of the similarly named F22 coupe.
F46 Gran Tourer is a separate, longer body introduced in 2015 with a stretched wheelbase, larger luggage space and an optional third seating row. Its up-to-seven-seat packaging is the decisive distinction from F45 and requires separate dimensions, weights and model availability.
The family used three- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, selected xDrive derivatives and the 225xe plug-in hybrid in the Active Tourer branch. F46 ended without a direct seven-seat successor; the U06 replacement continued only the five-seat Active Tourer concept.
2014–2021generation lifecycle
2body branches
3engine/drive families
14range designations
F45/F46factory code
longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drivearchitecture
Gran Tourer: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,556 mm
Width1,800 mm
Height1,608 mm
Wheelbase2,780 mm
Luggage145–1,905 L
Fuel tank51 L
Seats5–7
Doors5-door MPV · 5–7 seats
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Tourer | F45 | 2014–2021 | 5-door MPV / 5 | 4,342 mm | 468–1,510 L |
| Gran Tourer | F46 | 2014–2021 | 5-door MPV · 5–7 seats / 5–7 | 4,556 mm | 145–1,905 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented gran tourer applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 216i | 2015–2021 | B38A15 turbo inline-three | 102–109 PS | 6MT / 7DCT | FWD | Europe | The new BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer |
| 218i | 2014–2021 | B38A15 turbo inline-three | 136–140 PS | 6MT / 6AT / 7DCT | FWD | Global range | The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer |
| 220i | 2014–2021 | B48A20 turbo inline-four | 192 PS | 6AT / 7DCT / 8AT | FWD | Global range | The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer |
| 225i xDrive | 2014–2018 | B48A20 turbo inline-four | 231 PS | 8AT | AWD | Global range | The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer |
| 216d | 2015–2021 | B37C15 diesel inline-three | 116 PS | 6MT / 7DCT | FWD | Europe | The new BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer |
| 218d | 2014–2021 | B47C20 diesel inline-four | 150 PS | 6MT / 8AT | FWD / xDrive | Europe | The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer |
| 220d | 2014–2021 | B47C20 diesel inline-four | 190 PS | 8AT | FWD / xDrive | Europe | The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer |
Factory designations
216i · 218i · 220i · 225i xDrive · 216d · 218d · 220d · 225xe · 216i Gran Tourer · 218i Gran Tourer · 220i Gran Tourer · 216d Gran Tourer · 218d Gran Tourer · 220d Gran Tourer
Petrol engines
Inline and V engines are grouped by engine family, displacement, induction system and emissions specification.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
Electrification
Mild- and plug-in hybrids are separate derivatives; combustion-engine output must not be substituted for total system output.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- F45: 4,342 mm × 1,800 mm × 1,555 mm
- F46: 4,556 mm × 1,800 mm × 1,608 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
F45 Active Tourer
BMW launched its first front-wheel-drive series model with a five-seat compact MPV body.
F46 Gran Tourer
The longer derivative added a sliding second row and optional fold-away third row for up to seven seats.
xDrive and plug-in hybrid
All-wheel-drive derivatives broadened both bodies, while 225xe electrification was specific to Active Tourer.
Two-body family ends
F45/F46 production closed; the second generation did not replace the seven-seat Gran Tourer.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Active Tourer
F452 Series F45 is a distinct F45/F46 body branch. A space-efficient five-door body with a high seating position and flexible rear passenger compartment. Engines/drive: B38/B48 petrol, B37/B47 diesel, 225xe plug-in hybrid.
Gran Tourer
F462 Series F46 is a distinct F45/F46 body branch. The longer three-row companion to the Active Tourer, with a stretched wheelbase, larger luggage area and optional seven-seat layout. Engines/drive: B38/B48 petrol, B37/B47 diesel, 225xe plug-in hybrid.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- F45 — Active Tourer; F46 — Gran Tourer
- Range designations
- 216i, 218i, 220i, 225i xDrive, 216d, 218d, 220d, 225xe, 216i Gran Tourer, 218i Gran Tourer, 220i Gran Tourer, 216d Gran Tourer, 218d Gran Tourer, 220d Gran Tourer
- Powertrain families
- B38/B48 petrol, B37/B47 diesel, 225xe plug-in hybrid
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW 2 Series Active TourerWikipedia contributors
Secondary F45/F46 body, platform, lifecycle and succession overview.
- 02The new BMW 2 Series Active TourerBMW Group PressClub
Factory F45 launch material for dimensions, transverse layout, engines and interior package.
- 03The new BMW 2 Series Gran TourerBMW Group PressClub
Factory F46 launch material for dimensions, luggage volume and optional seven-seat layout.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- Active Tourer and Gran Tourer are different bodies, not short/long equipment levels. F46 specifications cannot fill missing F45 fields or vice versa.
- F45/F46 were not a global US-market range; availability must be scoped geographically.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026