BMW 116 (2005)
2005 BMW 116
CarHunch analysed 5,375 real MOT records for the 2005 BMW 116.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →
The 2005 BMW 116 sits bang on the UK average with a 79.2% first-time pass rate, but the real concern is that 37.8% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point — nearly double the typical threshold — making this a model where pre-purchase inspection is genuinely essential. Petrol versions (which dominate the cohort) show a marginally weaker 79.1% pass rate, suggesting no fuel-type advantage here.
At 70,327 miles median, these cars show typical mileage for their age, but the 3.64 average failures per MOT reveal they're racking up real problems rather than just advisory wear items. The 23.4 advisories per test indicates cumulative degradation across multiple systems; before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, brakes, and cooling components, where this generation is known to fail.
The 2005 BMW 116 has a decent first-time pass rate (79.2%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.
These stats describe 5,375 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.
What tends to go wrong
Across 5,375 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,375 BMW 116 cars.
Before you buy a 2005 BMW 116
Based on MOT data from 5,375 vehicles — here's what to check.
-
📋
Check the full MOT history.
37.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded -
recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle. -
🔍
Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price.
Inspection
→
-
📄
Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically.
History
Get 20% off via CarHunch
Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (98%) | 5,284 | 79.2% | 3.65 |
| Diesel (2%) | 87 | 79.6% | 3.18 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 137,001 BMW 116 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2005 BMW 116 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2005 BMW 116 vehicles fall between 56,866 and 84,191 miles.
2005 BMW 116 — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 19% of 2005 BMW 116s are still active.
Numbers are declining — 922 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (19% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.
MOT History Averages
Or browse all models: BMW →
Compare with another model
See how the 2005 BMW 116 stacks up against a rival.