Used car guide

2007 BMW 1 Series: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2007 BMW 1 Seriess, from 766 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

766MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%)
6,800typical miles a year
5.9×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2007 BMW 1 Seriess than on all cars registered in 2007.

  • Flexible brake hoses5.9× usual
    BMW 1 Series
    26.5% All 2007 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 0.7% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

Better than most

Coil springs: 3.7% here, against 11.7% of all 2007 cars. Sidelights: 3.1% here, against 7.4% of all 2007 cars.

By area

The share of 2007 BMW 1 Series MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    47% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    39% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    35% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    22% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    14% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a BMW 1 Series?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201915,113Tyres 26%
201812,251Tyres 26%
20177,436Tyres 24%
20162,757Tyres 22%
20151,530Tyres 22%
20142,004Tyres 24%
201315,070Tyres 32%
201212,795Tyres 32%
20112,309Tyres 33%
20101,902Tyres 36%
20091,635Brakes 38%
20081,142Brakes 43%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2007 BMW 1 Seriess registered in 2007. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score