2008 BMW 118: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 BMW 118s, from 4,568 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,568MOT tests in 2025

63%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)

7,300typical miles a year

6.8×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 BMW 118s than on all cars registered in 2008.

Flexible brake hoses6.8× usual

BMW 118
27.2% All 2008 cars
4%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.5% of all 2008 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 absorbers2.1× usual

BMW 118
16.7% All 2008 cars
8%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 2.1% of all 2008 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.
Sub-frame2× usual

BMW 118
15.8% All 2008 cars
7.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.4% of all 2008 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.
Brake pads1.6× usual

BMW 118
14% All 2008 cars
8.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 2.1% of all 2008 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.
Flexible couplings27× usual

BMW 118
2.7% All 2008 cars
0.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0% of all 2008 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: 3.7% here, against 12.2% of all 2008 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 0.8% here, against 7.2% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 BMW 118 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Brakes

49% 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

45% 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

36% 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

28% 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

20% 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

13% 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 118?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2023	835	Tyres 10%
2022	9,927	Tyres 25%
2021	12,728	Tyres 27%
2020	17,792	Tyres 31%
2019	10,275	Tyres 29%
2018	11,127	Tyres 30%
2017	14,713	Tyres 29%
2016	13,711	Tyres 29%
2015	10,895	Tyres 30%
2014	4,296	Tyres 31%
2013	5,365	Tyres 34%
2012	5,514	Suspension 33%
2011	8,574	Tyres 35%
2010	9,214	Suspension 39%
2009	6,637	Suspension 42%
2007	2,687	Brakes 48%
2006	2,062	Brakes 51%
2005	1,234	Brakes 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 BMW 118s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score