How reliable is the BMW 116?
Owner-reported reliability data: inspection results, typical mileage, and the most common failures.
The BMW 116 passes first-time inspections at roughly the European average. The most commonly reported issues are a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm. Typical mileage by age and a year-by-year breakdown of reliability are shown below. All figures are owner-reported real-world data, not a marketing rating.
Above average reliability
Based on 52,730 inspection tests. First-time pass rate: 82.1%.
BMW 116 reliability by year
How the BMW 116 performs at first-time inspection, broken down by the year cohort. Empty cells mean we don't have enough owner-reported data for that year yet.
| Year cohort | Pass rate | Typical mileage @ 5 yrs |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 72.2% | – |
| 2005 | 71% | – |
| 2006 | 71.6% | – |
| 2007 | 72.8% | – |
| 2008 | 73.9% | – |
| 2009 | 73.8% | – |
| 2010 | 74.5% | – |
| 2011 | 76.4% | – |
| 2012 | 76.9% | – |
| 2013 | 80.8% | – |
| 2014 | 82.1% | – |
| 2015 | 83.3% | – |
| 2016 | 84.2% | – |
| 2017 | 86.7% | 87,382 km |
| 2018 | 87% | 79,915 km |
| 2019 | 88% | 80,478 km |
| 2020 | 90.4% | 79,126 km |
| 2021 | 91.6% | – |
Model-level pattern, not per-car prediction
These figures describe the BMW 116 as a model. The reliability of any individual BMW 116 also depends on service history, accident history, and how it was driven. Run a free VIN check to see the records attached to a specific car you're considering.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW 116 reliable?
Based on owner-reported inspection records, the BMW 116 passes first-time inspections at roughly the European average. Its first-time inspection pass rate sits around 82%. Reliability varies by year and engine: see the year-by-year breakdown on this page for the specific cohort you're considering.
What are the common problems on the BMW 116?
The most common owner-reported issues are: A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (3% of inspections); Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (2.3% of inspections); a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm (1.3% of inspections); The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (1.1% of inspections); A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED (1.1% of inspections).
What mileage is normal for a BMW 116?
For a typical BMW 116, owner-reported average mileage works out to about – at 3 years, – at 5 years, and 137,593 km at 10 years. The mileage section on this page shows the full distribution, high-use vs low-use cars often differ by a factor of three.
How do I check a specific BMW 116 before buying?
Enter the 17-character VIN on Carlytics. The free check shows decoded specs and open safety recalls. The full vehicle history report (from EUR 8.90) cross-references owner-reported issues, mileage records, and stolen-vehicle databases for the specific car, model-level reliability tells you the pattern, the VIN check tells you the car.