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

Used car guide

2007 BMW 118: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2007 BMW 118s, from 2,687 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,687MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%)
6,900typical miles a year
6×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2007 BMW 118s than on all cars registered in 2007.

  • Flexible brake hoses6× usual
    BMW 118
    27% All 2007 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 0.7% of all 2007 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× usual
    BMW 118
    15.8% All 2007 cars
    8.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 2.1% of all 2007 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.

  • Brake pads1.7× usual
    BMW 118
    13.9% All 2007 cars
    8.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 2% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Sub-frame1.7× usual
    BMW 118
    13% All 2007 cars
    7.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.4% of all 2007 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.

  • Flexible couplings22× usual
    BMW 118
    2.2% All 2007 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Better than most

Coil springs: 4.5% here, against 11.7% of all 2007 cars. Headlights: 6.2% here, against 13% of all 2007 cars.

By area

The share of 2007 BMW 118 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
    42% 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
    37% 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
    30% 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
    21% 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 118?

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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%
20125,514Suspension 33%
20118,574Tyres 35%
20109,214Suspension 39%
20096,637Suspension 42%
20084,568Brakes 49%
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 2007 BMW 118s registered in 2007. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score