2004 BMW 120d: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2004 BMW 120d?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2004 BMW 120d than on all cars registered in 2004.

• Flexible brake hoses4.5× usual
  BMW 120d

  25.2% All 2004 cars

  5.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 1.2% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

• Individual direction indicators3.4× usual
  BMW 120d

  11.7% All 2004 cars

  3.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 1.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

• Shock absorbers2.2× usual
  BMW 120d

  14.8% All 2004 cars

  6.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 1.7% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

• Sub-frame2.3× usual
  BMW 120d

  11.5% All 2004 cars

  5.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 0.3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

• Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual
  BMW 120d

  15.9% All 2004 cars

  9.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 2.1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Common 2004 BMW 120d MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2004 BMW 120d MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Brakes
  49% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Suspension
  45% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Lights and electrics
  39% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Tyres
  36% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  17% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  13% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2004 BMW 120d

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Rear axle, brake servo and airbag faults

  Some cars

  Faults to have been fixed: loose rear control arm joints (built May to Sept 2004), a leaking brake servo seal (built March 2006) and airbag and seatbelt wiring (built May to July 2008).

  At the viewing: Ask a BMW dealer to check the VIN for outstanding work.

  Source: What Car?: common BMW 1 Series (2004 on) problems

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2004 BMW 120d

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Any recent work on the flexible brake hoses? (Flagged at MOT 4.5× as often on the 2004 BMW 120d as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the 2004 BMW 120d as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2004 BMW 120d as on other cars the same age.)
4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?