2008 BMW 116 MOT pass rate: 73.7% (7,004 tests)

2008-registered BMW 116s passed 73.7% of 7,004 MOT tests in 2023–2025 — 8.5 points better than all UK cars registered in 2008 (65.1%). This is one of the strongest 116 years in the age-adjusted MOT ranking, although the individual car still matters more.

73.7%Pass rate, 2008 cars

108.5Age-adjusted index (100 = average)

7,004Tests analysed

96,349 miMedian mileage at test

73.7% / 70.6%Petrol vs diesel pass rate

Is the 2008 116 getting worse?

Pass rate of 2008-registered cars across recent test years:

Test year	Pass rate
2023	74.3% +9.0 vs same-age
2024	72.1% +7.3 vs same-age
2025	74.4% +9.3 vs same-age

The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.

What fails on a 2008 116

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Brakes	1,115	22.3%
2	Suspension	794	15.9%
3	Tyres	724	14.5%
4	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	698	14.0%
5	Noise, emissions and leaks	651	13.0%
6	Visibility	440	8.8%

All 116 years compared

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2005	3,928	71.1%	+6.6 pts	107,441
2006	8,252	71.3%	+6.9 pts	109,541
2007	7,955	73.0%	+7.9 pts	105,938
2008 (this page)	7,004	73.7%	+8.5 pts	96,349
2009	16,197	73.4%	+7.0 pts	98,738
2010	17,012	73.9%	+6.5 pts	101,923
2011	18,786	75.3%	+6.1 pts	97,443
2012	19,823	74.4%	+3.2 pts	96,008
2013	31,684	78.6%	+5.3 pts	89,645
2014	57,825	80.2%	+4.4 pts	82,664
2015	43,025	81.4%	+2.6 pts	79,313
2016	34,782	82.7%	+1.4 pts	74,547
2017	24,393	84.8%	+0.8 pts	65,148
2018	6,857	85.2%	-1.2 pts	54,456
2019	3,951	86.4%	-2.0 pts	45,406
2020	6,938	88.0%	-2.0 pts	39,984
2021	2,890	89.3%	-1.1 pts	37,642

Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: BMW 116 years to avoid.

Buying a 2008 116? Two checks first

Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

FAQs

Is a 2008 BMW 116 reliable?

2008-registered examples passed 73.7% of their MOT tests (7,004 tests, 2023–2025), +8.5 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 18 years old with a median 96,349 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.

What mileage is too high for a 2008 116?

The median tested example shows 96,349 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.