Used car guide

2020 BMW 116: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 BMW 116s, from 2,295 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,295MOT tests in 2025
85%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
10,000typical miles a year
3.4×the usual rate for engine warning light

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2020 BMW 116s than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Engine warning light3.4× usual
    BMW 116
    2.4% All 2020 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.7% of all 2020 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.

By area

The share of 2020 BMW 116 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • Brakes
    11% 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
    4% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Lights and electrics
    3% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a BMW 116?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022685Tyres 28%
20211,479Tyres 31%
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 2020 BMW 116s registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score