MOT performance
BMW MOT pass rates and common failures
Across 3,694,719 MOT tests of BMW cars in 2023–2024, 78.5% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, BMWs failed 24% less often than comparable cars. Of the 19 BMW models with enough tests, the BMW M3 failed least often relative to comparable cars.
3,694,719 MOT tests on 1,935,385 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 78.5% | ±0 pts (95%), n = 3,694,719 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.76× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 7.4% | n = 3,694,719 |
| Average age at test | 9.2 years | n = 3,694,719 |
BMW models
Every BMW model with at least 10,000 tests, most-tested first.
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 3 Series | 1,007,360 | 74.9% | 0.77× |
| BMW 1 Series | 795,720 | 76.0% | 0.82× |
| BMW 5 Series | 428,945 | 78.8% | 0.68× |
| BMW 2 Series | 233,716 | 84.4% | 0.84× |
| BMW X1 | 207,572 | 82.8% | 0.76× |
| BMW 4 Series | 206,848 | 84.2% | 0.73× |
| BMW X3 | 204,786 | 79.8% | 0.79× |
| BMW X5 | 180,951 | 78.5% | 0.71× |
| BMW Z4 | 70,690 | 76.9% | 0.68× |
| BMW i3 | 43,497 | 87.5% | 0.83× |
| BMW 7 Series | 38,023 | 82.6% | 0.58× |
| BMW X2 | 34,912 | 84.8% | 1.05× |
| BMW X4 | 33,200 | 85.1% | 0.78× |
| BMW M3 | 31,544 | 85.7% | 0.41× |
| BMW X6 | 30,776 | 82.8% | 0.64× |
| BMW Z3 | 24,264 | 68.3% | 0.91× |
| BMW M4 | 24,113 | 87.2% | 0.71× |
| BMW 640 | 20,209 | 81.7% | 0.68× |
| BMW 6 Series | 10,465 | 84.7% | 0.62× |
Where BMWs fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 7.2% | +8% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 7.0% | -36% |
| Suspension | 4.9% | -44% |
| Brakes | 4.5% | -35% |
| Driver's view of the road | 3.3% | -28% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.9% | -39% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 1.0% | -70% |
| Road wheels | 0.9% | +119% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.9% | -21% |
| Steering | 0.6% | -72% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.4% | +13% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -20% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.37% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 1.75% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.69% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.55% |
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | Suspension | 1.47% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 1.42% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 1.27% |
| Headlamp aim: too low | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.07% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 1.00% |
| Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure | Tyres | 0.98% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 548,699 | 88.1% | -16% |
| 5-6 | 614,151 | 85.8% | -24% |
| 7-8 | 602,445 | 82.3% | -29% |
| 9-10 | 478,658 | 76.4% | -27% |
| 11-12 | 365,554 | 71.0% | -23% |
| 13-15 | 395,077 | 68.5% | -26% |
| 16+ | 514,741 | 66.7% | -23% |
MOT failures where BMW stands out
Individual failure items that BMWs record clearly more or less often than cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. All BMW MOT failure patterns.
- Coil spring: fractured or broken · 0.41× comparable cars
- Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak · 1.78× comparable cars
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively · 0.49× comparable cars
- Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure · 2.02× comparable cars
Check a specific BMW
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.