Used car guide

2008 BMW 1 Series: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 BMW 1 Seriess, from 1,142 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,142MOT tests in 2025
66%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,800typical miles a year
6.4×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 BMW 1 Seriess than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Flexible brake hoses6.4× usual
    BMW 1 Series
    25.7% All 2008 cars
    4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 0.5% of all 2008 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.

  • Shock absorbers1.9× usual
    BMW 1 Series
    14.8% All 2008 cars
    8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 2.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Sub-frame1.8× usual
    BMW 1 Series
    14% All 2008 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Airbag warning light2.7× usual
    BMW 1 Series
    2.7% All 2008 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 0.9% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Coil springs: 3.8% here, against 12.2% of all 2008 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 4.5% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 BMW 1 Series MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    43% 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
    33% 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
    27% 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
    19% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    13% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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%
2007766Brakes 47%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 BMW 1 Seriess registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score