Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2009 BMW 316?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2009 BMW 316?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2009 BMW 316?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2009 BMW 316 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

50% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2009 BMW 316 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 234 vehicles, the 2009 BMW 316 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 78.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2009 BMW 316?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2009 BMW 316 are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (68.5% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.5% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (52.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2009 BMW 316?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

BMW 316 (2009)

234 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.6% first-time pass rate

2009 BMW 316

CarHunch analysed 234 real MOT records for the 2009 BMW 316. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2009 BMW 316 diesel passes its MOT at 78.3%, slightly below the UK average of 80%, which is a modest reliability concern—but the real red flag is that nearly half of these cars (49.6%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, suggesting structural or safety issues warrant serious pre-purchase inspection. With average mileage around 101,500 miles for a 15-year-old car, these are well-used examples, and owners can expect an average of 3.25 failures and 18.4 advisories per test, pointing to accumulating wear across multiple systems.

The relatively high advisory count suggests you'll face recurring minor repairs rather than catastrophic single failures. Before buying, get a thorough pre-purchase inspection from a BMW specialist, paying particular attention to the suspension, braking system, and structural components—don't rely on MOT history alone given the dangerous defect prevalence.

We have limited data for the 2009 BMW 316 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

78.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

49.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.25

Over 14.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

102k

Middle half: 82k–119k

For context

These stats describe 234 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 234 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 68.5%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Oil leak, but not excessive · …

Tyre wear 53.5%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 45.8%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2009.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 234 BMW 316 cars.

Before you buy a 2009 BMW 316

Based on MOT data from 234 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 49.6% 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
Diesel (97%)	227	78.3%	3.3

Colour Breakdown

Based on 155,615 BMW 316 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 20.6%

32,075

Black 18.7%

29,126

Red 18.2%

28,273

Silver 14.5%

22,636

White 10.1%

15,777

Green 9.7%

15,133

Grey 4.4%

6,869

Bronze 1%

1,567

Beige 0.8%

1,186

Gold 0.7%

1,076

Brown 0.6%

965

Purple 0.6%

932

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 BMW 316 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.

102,348

typical

82,246

low mileage

118,801

high mileage

Half of all 2009 BMW 316 vehicles fall between 82,246 and 118,801 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 82,246 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 82,246–118,801 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 BMW 316s sit.

⚠ Over 160,381 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 BMW 316 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 39% of 2009 BMW 316s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 84 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (39% 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

14.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.25

Avg failures per vehicle

18.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 316: All 316 years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Or browse all models: BMW →

Compare with another model

See how the 2009 BMW 316 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing