Buy a 2018-2023 BMW X2 if you want the cheapest way into a fun small BMW crossover and can accept a choppy ride and a tight back seat, and buy a 2024 or newer X2 if you want standard all-wheel drive, more power and some factory warranty left. The M35i is the quick one in both generations. On any 2024-2025 car, have a BMW dealer confirm the integrated brake recalls are complete on the VIN, because the latest one (26V422) also catches cars that were already fixed once.
I pulled the X2's recall list from the NHTSA recalls API and read Car and Driver's model-year pages on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Two things stood out. The first-generation car has a light, mostly closed-out recall history. The newer one has a short record but a more serious item: brake assist failures that BMW has now recalled more than once.
The two X2 generations
The X2 arrived for 2018. C/D's 2018 review describes it as based on the boxier X1, roughly 3 inches shorter and nearly 3 inches lower, with a 228-hp turbo four and an eight-speed automatic. The front-drive car is the sDrive28i and the all-wheel-drive one is the xDrive28i. Base MSRP was $37,395, and C/D's lows were "less practical than an X1, more expensive than an X1." For 2019 BMW added the M35i, a 302-hp version of the four that C/D clocked at 4.6 seconds to 60 mph, and also called out for a harsh ride, especially on the sport suspension. The same body ran through 2023; C/D's 2023 page still says it is "nothing more than a previous-generation BMW X1" underneath, with a choppy ride and limited practicality.
The 2024 X2 started a second generation. It grew, took on a sloped coupe-like roof, and made all-wheel drive standard. The xDrive28i now makes 241 hp and the M35i 312 hp, both through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. On the current model page, C/D tested an xDrive28i at 5.7 seconds to 60 mph, a little behind the X1's 5.4, and lists turbo lag and slightly less room than the X1 as the main gripes. Consumer Reports is harsher: it likes the engine and front seats but complains about low-speed dual-clutch quirks, an overly firm ride and having to use the touchscreen for simple audio and climate adjustments, while noting 29 mpg overall in its testing.
Warranty is 4 years or 50,000 miles on both the car and the powertrain, with 3 years or 36,000 miles of scheduled maintenance, per C/D. A 2023 bought now may be close to the end of that, so price it like a car with no coverage. When I checked, C/D's used-price ranges ran from $8,175 to $20,220 for a 2018 and $29,995 to $45,988 for a 2024. Those move every week, so use them as a rough sense of the gap between generations and nothing more.
X2 recalls to confirm on the VIN
- 26V422, 2025 X2: the integrated brake system can lose power brake assist or knock out ABS and stability control. The NHTSA record lists 428 vehicles across BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce models, with owner letters expected August 21, 2026, and says cars already repaired under 24V104 or 24V739 need this new remedy too.
- 24V104, 2024-2025: the same brake symptoms, fixed by replacing the integrated brake system. 24V697, 2024: welds in the brake module's servomotor may break, with loss of power assist and rear braking.
- 25V616, 2025-2026: the torsion bar in both front seat belt retractors may have been damaged in production. 25V717, 2026: a damaged pin in a rear seat belt retractor.
- First generation: 18V465 (crankshaft sensor firmware that can cause a stall on early 28i models), 19V601 (incorrectly assembled tie rods on 2019 xDrive28i), 20V283 (rollover sensor in the 2020 air bag control unit) and 21V554 (passenger seat belt locking retractor on 2021 cars).
The API returned no recalls for the 2022 and 2023 model years. Our BMW recall check by VIN guide covers how to see what is still open on a specific car, and the BMW VIN decoder post, along with NHTSA's free vPIC decoder, will tell you whether that "M35i" is really one or a 28i wearing badges.
X2 or its relatives
Look, the X2 is mostly a style choice. If you want the same mechanicals with more rear headroom and cargo space, our used BMW X1 buying guide covers the sibling, which shares several of these recalls. If you need real back-seat room, the used BMW X3 guide is the next size up. Outside BMW, the used Audi Q3 buying guide covers the rival C/D ranks alongside the X2 in this class.
Check the history before you pay BMW money
A first-generation X2 can be eight years old now, which is plenty of time for an accident repair or a swapped cluster to drop out of the seller's story. Run the VIN through NMVTIS for title brands, then read a full report for accidents, odometer readings and gaps in dealer service. Do not take a seller's PDF at face value. We have seen edited ones, and they cost a scammer nothing to make. CarVins is a licensed reseller of CARFAX and AutoCheck reports and is not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or BMW. As of mid October 2026, one report through us runs roughly $5.50 for guests or $4.50 for members, and around $6.75 for both brands, while the brands themselves charge about $39.99 to $44.99. Confirm the number at checkout.
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