BMW 116 (2008)
2008 BMW 116
CarHunch analysed 4,964 real MOT records for the 2008 BMW 116.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 2008 BMW 116 passes its MOT at 80.7%, marginally above the UK average of 80%, suggesting broadly average reliability—but the real concern is that 42.5% of these cars have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, well above typical thresholds and a genuine red flag for buyers. This suggests structural or safety system issues are more common than you'd want in a decade-old city car.
At nearly 65,000 miles on average, these examples have been moderately well used, and they're racking up 3.06 failures per test alongside 18.8 advisories, indicating wear accumulation that's more pronounced than the pass rate alone suggests. Before buying, get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on suspension geometry, brake systems, and any corrosion—the high dangerous-defect rate means the difference between a sensible used buy and a money pit often comes down to how well the previous owner maintained it.
The 2008 BMW 116 has a decent first-time pass rate (80.7%), 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 4,964 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 4,964 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 4,964 BMW 116 cars.
Before you buy a 2008 BMW 116
Based on MOT data from 4,964 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
42.5% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (99%) | 4,891 | 80.7% | 3.06 |
| Diesel (1%) | 73 | 79.8% | 3.04 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 137,001 BMW 116 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2008 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 2008 BMW 116 vehicles fall between 50,414 and 77,205 miles.
2008 BMW 116 — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 40% of 2008 BMW 116s are still active.
Numbers are declining — 1,823 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (40% 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 2008 BMW 116 stacks up against a rival.