Used car guide

2005 BMW 116: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 BMW 116s, from 957 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

957MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
5,400typical miles a year
4.7×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 BMW 116s than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Flexible brake hoses4.7× usual
    BMW 116
    27.3% All 2005 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.2% of all 2005 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-frame2.4× usual
    BMW 116
    16.6% All 2005 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.3% of all 2005 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.

  • Shock absorbers2.1× usual
    BMW 116
    14.3% All 2005 cars
    6.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 1.7% of all 2005 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.

  • Individual direction indicators2.8× usual
    BMW 116
    9.9% All 2005 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 1.5% of all 2005 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.

  • Airbag warning light4.1× usual
    BMW 116
    6.5% All 2005 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 1.5% of all 2005 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

Headlights: 6.1% here, against 14.2% of all 2005 cars. Coil springs: 4.1% here, against 10.8% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 BMW 116 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
    40% 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
    32% 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
    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
    16% 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 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%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 BMW 116s registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score