Used car guide

2016 BMW 2 Series: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 BMW 2 Seriess, from 2,264 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,264MOT tests in 2025
86%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
6,700typical miles a year
4×the usual rate for steering rack inner joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 BMW 2 Seriess than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Steering rack inner joints4× usual
    BMW 2 Series
    3.2% All 2016 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Wheels2.1× usual
    BMW 2 Series
    2.3% All 2016 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.3% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

Better than most

Brake discs: 4.4% here, against 12.3% of all 2016 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.7% here, against 6.1% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 BMW 2 Series MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    24% 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.

  • Brakes
    12% 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
    9% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Steering
    4% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    3% 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 2 Series?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20202,004Tyres 20%
20193,543Tyres 22%
20186,885Tyres 25%
20173,454Tyres 24%
20151,506Tyres 26%
20141,029Tyres 28%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 BMW 2 Seriess registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score