Used car guide

2008 BMW 123: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 BMW 123s, from 995 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

995MOT tests in 2025
66%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
7,800typical miles a year
6.3×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 BMW 123s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Flexible brake hoses6.3× usual
    BMW 123
    25.1% All 2008 cars
    4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, 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 123
    16.4% All 2008 cars
    8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, 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-frame2.1× usual
    BMW 123
    16% All 2008 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, 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.

  • Flexible couplings48× usual
    BMW 123
    4.8% 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: 4.9% here, against 12.2% of all 2008 cars. Headlights: 5.1% here, against 10.7% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 BMW 123 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% 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
    43% 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
    35% 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
    26% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2010510Suspension 37%
2009688Suspension 45%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 BMW 123s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score