Used car guide

2007 BMW 123: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2007 BMW 123s, from 156 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 156 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

156MOT tests in 2025
75%pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%)
7,900typical miles a year
6.4×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2007 BMW 123s than on all cars registered in 2007.

  • Flexible brake hoses6.4× usual
    BMW 123
    28.8% All 2007 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, 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.

  • Sub-frame2.5× usual
    BMW 123
    19.2% All 2007 cars
    7.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, 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.

By area

The share of 2007 BMW 123 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    46% 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
    45% 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    19% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    7% 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.

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.

  • Power steering warning (built June 2007 to Dec 2011)
    Built from June 2007

    A part in the steering control module can fail, lighting the EPS warning and making the steering heavier.

    At the viewing: Make sure the steering light goes out and the steering feels light.

    Source: What Car?: common BMW 1 Series (2004 on) problems

  • 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

Looking at a BMW 123?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2012144Suspension 35%
2011410Tyres 37%
2010510Suspension 37%
2009688Suspension 45%
2008995Suspension 47%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2007 BMW 123s registered in 2007. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score