Part of the BMW 118 E87 (2004–2011) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2004 BMW 118: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 BMW 118s, from 167 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 167 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

167MOT tests in 2025
56%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
7,000typical miles a year
4.3×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 BMW 118s than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Flexible brake hoses4.3× usual
    BMW 118
    24.6% All 2004 cars
    5.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, 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.

  • Shock absorbers2.7× usual
    BMW 118
    18.6% All 2004 cars
    7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 1.7% of all 2004 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.

By area

The share of 2004 BMW 118 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    48% 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.

  • Brakes
    46% 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.

  • 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
    31% 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
    17% 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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023835Tyres 10%
20229,927Tyres 25%
202112,728Tyres 27%
202017,792Tyres 31%
201910,275Tyres 29%
201811,127Tyres 30%
201714,713Tyres 29%
201613,711Tyres 29%
201510,895Tyres 30%
20144,296Tyres 31%
20135,365Tyres 34%
20125,514Tyres 33%
20118,574Tyres 35%
20109,214Suspension 39%
20096,637Suspension 42%
20084,568Brakes 49%
20072,687Brakes 48%
20062,062Brakes 51%
20051,234Brakes 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 BMW 118s registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score