Known APK problem
BMW 1-serie E87: brakes
On the BMW 1-serie E87 the APK inspector finds brakes problems 70% more often than on cars of the same age: at 16+ years 5.6%, against about 3.3% nationally.
Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026
What is it?
Worn or rusted brake discs and pads, or uneven braking.
How to check it at the viewing
Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.
Ask the seller: When were the brake discs and pads last replaced?
By age
Share of inspected BMW 1-serie E87s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.
| Age | Type | 1-serie E87 | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 – 15 years | A | 3.1% | 3.9% | 0.8× |
| 13 – 15 years | B | 4.0% | 2.0% | 2.0× |
| 16+ years | A | 3.3% | 6.6% | 0.5× |
| 16+ years | B | 1.5% | 2.1% | 0.7× |
| 16+ years | C | 5.6% | 3.3% | 1.7× |
A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.
Comparable cars at 16+ years
| Model | Brakes | Vs. national |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 1-serie E87 | 5.6% | 1.7× |
| Renault Mégane III | 3.7% | 0.6× |
| Mazda Mazda2 (DE) | 2.7% | 0.4× |
| Volkswagen Golf Plus | 6.6% | 1.1× |
| Škoda Yeti | 3.2% | 0.5× |
| Nissan Pixo | 3.4% | 0.6× |
Looking at a BMW 1-serie E87? Check that car
Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other BMW 1-serie E87s of the same age.
All weak spots of the BMW 1-serie E87 · Brakes: which models more often · Checklist for this model
Frequently asked questions
Does the BMW 1-serie E87 often have brakes problems?
Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 16+ years the inspector found a brakes defect on 5.6% of inspected BMW 1-serie E87s, against about 3.3% of all cars of the same age (1.7×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.
How do you check the brakes on a used BMW 1-serie E87?
Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.
Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.
Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know