Used car guide

2004 BMW 116: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 BMW 116s, from 294 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 294 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

294MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
5,300typical miles a year
4.5×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 BMW 116s than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Flexible brake hoses4.5× usual
    BMW 116
    25.9% All 2004 cars
    5.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.2% of all 2004 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.

  • Sub-frame2.7× usual
    BMW 116
    17% All 2004 cars
    6.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.3% of all 2004 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.

By area

The share of 2004 BMW 116 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    48% 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
    43% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    35% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    23% 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
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Known faults

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Rear axle, brake servo and airbag faults
    Some cars

    Faults to have been fixed: loose rear control arm joints (built May to Sept 2004), a leaking brake servo seal (built March 2006) and airbag and seatbelt wiring (built May to July 2008).

    At the viewing: Ask a BMW dealer to check the VIN for outstanding work.

    Source: What Car?: common BMW 1 Series (2004 on) problems

Looking at a BMW 116?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022685Tyres 28%
20211,479Tyres 31%
20202,295Tyres 29%
20191,311Tyres 31%
20182,295Tyres 31%
20178,180Tyres 32%
201611,552Tyres 32%
201514,303Tyres 33%
201419,036Tyres 33%
201310,332Tyres 33%
20126,349Tyres 34%
20115,753Tyres 34%
20105,059Suspension 36%
20094,712Brakes 38%
20081,926Brakes 44%
20072,129Brakes 49%
20062,122Brakes 52%
2005957Brakes 47%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 BMW 116s registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score