BMW MOT pass rates by model, and what BMWs fail on
BMWs passed 78.3% of first MOT tests in Great Britain in 2023, against 71.4% for all cars. Compared with cars of the same age, that is +5.9 pts above average, 3rd of the 20 biggest brands. When a BMW does fail, it is usually on tyres, bulbs and headlight aim, suspension wear or brakes, not the engine: an MOT does not test engines or gearboxes.
Key facts
- 78.3% of BMWs passed their MOT first time in 2023 (1,825,404 tests), vs 71.4% for all cars.
- Age-adjusted, BMW is +5.9 pts above average: 3rd of 20 major brands, behind Porsche and Lexus.
- Best of the eight best-selling models: 2 Series (84.9%). Lowest: 3 Series (74.6%), mostly because it is older and higher-mileage.
- Top failure: tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) (4.8% of all BMW tests). Top advisory: tyre tread close to the legal limit (19.0%).
- Pass rate drops from 89.9% under 30k miles to 65.2% over 150k.
BMW vs other brands: age-adjusted MOT pass rate
Raw pass rates flatter brands with young cars on the road, so each brand is compared with what all cars of the same age scored. "Difference" is the brand's pass rate minus that same-age expectation. BMW sits +5.9 pts above average, ahead of Audi (+5.3 pts) and Mercedes-Benz (+3.3 pts).
| Brand | First-time pass | Same-age average | Difference | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche | 86.8% | 70.4% | +16.4 pts | 160,774 |
| Lexus | 83.1% | 71.5% | +11.6 pts | 158,742 |
| BMW | 78.3% | 72.4% | +5.9 pts | 1,825,404 |
| Audi | 77.8% | 72.5% | +5.3 pts | 1,664,410 |
| Jaguar | 78.1% | 72.8% | +5.2 pts | 345,360 |
| Honda | 72.1% | 66.9% | +5.2 pts | 936,764 |
| Land Rover | 76.5% | 71.6% | +5.0 pts | 901,437 |
| MINI | 76.0% | 71.4% | +4.6 pts | 792,922 |
| Toyota | 73.7% | 70.1% | +3.5 pts | 1,621,633 |
| Mercedes-Benz | 76.7% | 73.5% | +3.3 pts | 1,675,977 |
| Skoda | 76.6% | 73.9% | +2.7 pts | 760,777 |
| Volkswagen | 71.9% | 70.8% | +1.1 pts | 2,995,975 |
| Volvo | 73.0% | 72.1% | +0.9 pts | 565,033 |
| Hyundai | 73.1% | 73.5% | -0.4 pts | 853,982 |
| Kia | 73.6% | 74.8% | -1.2 pts | 873,485 |
| Ford | 68.4% | 71.0% | -2.6 pts | 4,442,560 |
| Nissan | 68.5% | 71.6% | -3.1 pts | 1,618,076 |
| Peugeot | 66.0% | 70.7% | -4.7 pts | 1,437,442 |
| Vauxhall | 65.4% | 70.3% | -4.9 pts | 3,043,877 |
| Renault | 61.7% | 70.4% | -8.7 pts | 1,011,483 |
MOT pass rate by BMW model
First-time pass rate for every BMW model with at least 2,000 MOT tests in 2023. Older, higher-mileage fleets (the 3 Series and 5 Series include many 15-year-old diesels) score lower in raw terms. Against cars of the same age, every model except the X2 beats the average.
| Model | First-time pass | Same-age average | Difference | Avg miles | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 3 Series | 74.6% | 68.5% | +6.1 pts | 95,000 | 503,214 |
| BMW 1 Series | 76.0% | 71.8% | +4.2 pts | 76,000 | 398,291 |
| BMW 5 Series | 78.5% | 71.0% | +7.5 pts | 99,000 | 217,346 |
| BMW 2 Series | 84.9% | 81.6% | +3.3 pts | 45,000 | 114,193 |
| BMW 4 Series | 84.6% | 79.7% | +4.9 pts | 57,000 | 100,518 |
| BMW X1 | 83.0% | 77.6% | +5.4 pts | 57,000 | 100,323 |
| BMW X3 | 79.4% | 74.6% | +4.8 pts | 71,000 | 97,199 |
| BMW X5 | 77.9% | 70.5% | +7.3 pts | 90,000 | 90,063 |
| BMW Z4 | 76.7% | 64.0% | +12.6 pts | 68,000 | 35,435 |
| BMW 6 Series | 79.6% | 69.3% | +10.3 pts | 80,000 | 23,184 |
| BMW i3 | 88.1% | 82.7% | +5.4 pts | 36,000 | 19,955 |
| BMW 7 Series | 82.1% | 71.1% | +11.0 pts | 91,000 | 18,937 |
| BMW X4 | 85.2% | 82.1% | +3.1 pts | 50,000 | 15,833 |
| BMW X2 | 84.4% | 85.9% | -1.5 pts | 33,000 | 15,797 |
| BMW M3 | 85.3% | 63.8% | +21.5 pts | 77,000 | 15,510 |
| BMW X6 | 83.0% | 74.4% | +8.6 pts | 74,000 | 15,188 |
| BMW Z3 | 67.8% | 61.7% | +6.1 pts | 85,000 | 12,573 |
| BMW M4 | 87.1% | 81.2% | +5.9 pts | 37,000 | 11,727 |
| BMW 8 Series | 83.9% | 82.6% | +1.2 pts | 42,000 | 4,158 |
| BMW M5 | 86.2% | 66.0% | +20.2 pts | 78,000 | 3,979 |
| BMW M2 | 89.0% | 82.7% | +6.3 pts | 33,000 | 3,777 |
| BMW i8 | 90.1% | 79.5% | +10.6 pts | 34,000 | 2,292 |
How age and mileage change a BMW's MOT odds
Mileage is the clearer signal. A BMW over 150,000 miles is roughly 3.4 times as likely to fail as one under 30,000.
| BMW age at test | First-time pass | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 5 years | 87.6% | 440,596 |
| 6 to 8 years | 84.1% | 472,303 |
| 9 to 11 years | 75.4% | 345,700 |
| 12 to 14 years | 69.9% | 230,065 |
| 15+ years | 66.5% | 336,740 |
| Mileage at test | First-time pass | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30,000 | 89.9% | 257,107 |
| 30,000 to 60,000 | 85.2% | 489,743 |
| 60,000 to 90,000 | 78.1% | 416,695 |
| 90,000 to 120,000 | 71.2% | 311,277 |
| 120,000 to 150,000 | 67.5% | 196,671 |
| Over 150,000 | 65.2% | 153,911 |
The most common BMW MOT failures
Share of all 2023 BMW MOT tests that failed on each item (a test can fail on several). Most are cheap consumables: tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords), headlight aim and tyre tread below the legal limit. Suspension wear (shock absorbers, bushes, ball joints) is the biggest mechanical theme.
| Failure item | Share of BMW tests |
|---|---|
| Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) | 4.8% |
| Headlight aim | 2.7% |
| Tyre tread below the legal limit | 2.6% |
| Windscreen washers (often just empty) | 2.2% |
| Side (position) light out | 1.7% |
| Shock absorber leaking or worn | 1.6% |
| Brake pads worn | 1.6% |
| Headlight not working or damaged | 1.4% |
| Brake efficiency below standard (roller test) | 1.1% |
| Wiper blades | 1.0% |
The most common BMW MOT advisories
Advisories do not fail the car but flag what is wearing out. They are the best clue to the next bill on a car you are about to buy.
| Advisory item | Share of BMW tests |
|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit | 19.0% |
| Brake discs wearing or scored | 7.7% |
| Brake pads wearing thin | 7.3% |
| Tyre cracking or minor damage | 6.1% |
| Suspension bushes wearing | 4.1% |
| Engine oil leak | 4.0% |
| Shock absorber misting or wearing | 3.8% |
| Brake pipes corroding | 2.7% |
| Brake hoses | 2.6% |
| Number plate | 1.7% |
Failure and advisory hotspots by model
The three most common failure items and advisories for each high-volume BMW model, as a share of that model's tests.
| Model | Top failures | Top advisories |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 3 Series | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 4.9%; Headlight aim 3.3%; Tyre tread below the legal limit 2.9% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 20.5%; Brake discs wearing or scored 8.8%; Brake pads wearing thin 7.7% |
| BMW 1 Series | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 4.4%; Headlight aim 3.6%; Tyre tread below the legal limit 3.3% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 20.6%; Brake discs wearing or scored 9.6%; Brake pads wearing thin 9.1% |
| BMW 5 Series | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 4.7%; Tyre tread below the legal limit 2.6%; Broken coil spring 2.3% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 19.2%; Brake discs wearing or scored 7.6%; Brake pads wearing thin 6.2% |
| BMW 2 Series | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 4.9%; Headlight aim 2.0%; Tyre tread below the legal limit 1.7% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 16.2%; Tyre cracking or minor damage 7.9%; Brake pads wearing thin 7.1% |
| BMW 4 Series | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 6.4%; Tyre tread below the legal limit 2.1%; Brake pads worn 1.4% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 18.4%; Brake pads wearing thin 7.5%; Brake discs wearing or scored 7.3% |
| BMW X1 | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 4.4%; Worn suspension bushes 2.0%; Tyre tread below the legal limit 2.0% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 17.5%; Tyre cracking or minor damage 9.2%; Brake pads wearing thin 7.2% |
| BMW X3 | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 3.9%; Headlight aim 3.0%; Broken coil spring 2.7% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 18.2%; Brake pads wearing thin 7.8%; Brake discs wearing or scored 6.1% |
| BMW X5 | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 5.7%; Worn suspension ball joint 2.4%; Windscreen washers (often just empty) 2.1% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 20.6%; Engine oil leak 6.2%; Brake pads wearing thin 6.0% |
| BMW Z4 | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 4.3%; Headlight aim 2.4%; Windscreen washers (often just empty) 2.1% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 14.5%; Brake discs wearing or scored 9.1%; Brake pipes corroding 8.6% |
| BMW 6 Series | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 6.4%; Broken coil spring 2.4%; Tyre tread below the legal limit 1.7% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 16.1%; Engine oil leak 6.1%; Brake discs wearing or scored 5.9% |
| BMW i3 | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 3.4%; Headlight aim 2.3%; Tyre tread below the legal limit 1.8% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 14.3%; Tyre cracking or minor damage 13.0%; Brake discs wearing or scored 5.3% |
| BMW 7 Series | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 3.9%; Windscreen washers (often just empty) 1.8%; Tyre tread below the legal limit 1.6% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 16.3%; Engine oil leak 8.6%; Suspension bushes wearing 5.9% |
| BMW X4 | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 4.1%; Tyre tread below the legal limit 2.2%; Broken coil spring 1.9% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 17.2%; Brake pads wearing thin 7.2%; Tyre cracking or minor damage 4.5% |
| BMW X2 | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 5.6%; Wiper blades 3.8%; Headlight aim 1.9% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 13.0%; Tyre cracking or minor damage 8.6%; Brake pads wearing thin 5.8% |
| BMW M3 | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 2.7%; Headlight aim 1.9%; Windscreen washers (often just empty) 1.5% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 10.2%; Brake pipes corroding 6.9%; Brake discs wearing or scored 5.1% |
| BMW X6 | Tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 5.3%; Broken coil spring 1.9%; Tyre tread below the legal limit 1.8% | Tyre tread close to the legal limit 18.4%; Brake pads wearing thin 5.4%; Brake discs wearing or scored 5.3% |
Which registration years beat their peers most
The older the BMW, the bigger its lead over cars of the same age. Newer cars of every brand almost all pass, so a 2019 or 2020 BMW is only level with its peers, while BMWs first registered 2006 to 2011 beat same-age cars by 9 to 11 points. The table shows, for each model, the registration years with the biggest and smallest lead (years with at least 1,000 tests). Only the 1996 3 Series (-0.6 pts), the 2020 3 Series (-3.0 pts) and the 2020 X5 (-1.2 pts) came in below the same-age average.
| Model | Biggest lead over same-age cars | Smallest lead |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 1 Series | 2007 (64% pass, +7.4 pts), 2008 (66% pass, +8.1 pts) | 2018 (86% pass, +1.4 pts), 2019 (88% pass, +1.5 pts) |
| BMW 2 Series | 2014 (78% pass, +6.4 pts), 2015 (82% pass, +6.3 pts) | 2019 (88% pass, +1.6 pts), 2020 (88% pass, +0.7 pts) |
| BMW 3 Series | 2006 (66% pass, +10.3 pts), 2007 (67% pass, +10.2 pts) | 1996 (65% pass, -0.6 pts), 2020 (85% pass, -3.0 pts) |
| BMW 4 Series | 2013 (80% pass, +11.7 pts), 2014 (80% pass, +8.3 pts) | 2019 (86% pass, +0.2 pts), 2020 (89% pass, +0.9 pts) |
| BMW 5 Series | 2008 (71% pass, +13.2 pts), 2009 (71% pass, +12.1 pts) | 1999 (63% pass, +0.5 pts), 2020 (88% pass, +0.1 pts) |
| BMW X1 | 2010 (70% pass, +9.1 pts), 2011 (72% pass, +8.5 pts) | 2019 (90% pass, +3.5 pts), 2020 (90% pass, +2.4 pts) |
| BMW X3 | 2008 (69% pass, +11.1 pts), 2011 (74% pass, +11.1 pts) | 2016 (81% pass, +2.2 pts), 2020 (90% pass, +2.2 pts) |
| BMW X5 | 2008 (71% pass, +14.1 pts), 2010 (75% pass, +14.9 pts) | 2019 (87% pass, +0.7 pts), 2020 (86% pass, -1.2 pts) |
Pass rate by engine variant
Where the DVSA record names the variant (for example 320 plus a diesel fuel type), results by badge. Many records only say "3 Series", so these are a subset: treat them as indicative, not a full census.
| Variant | First-time pass | Same-age average | Difference | Avg miles | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 520d | 76.9% | 68.6% | +8.2 pts | 113,000 | 79,003 |
| 118d | 71.3% | 67.7% | +3.6 pts | 96,000 | 73,009 |
| 116d | 75.1% | 73.9% | +1.2 pts | 81,000 | 71,139 |
| 118i | 83.3% | 79.7% | +3.6 pts | 44,000 | 68,557 |
| 420d | 83.0% | 79.0% | +4.0 pts | 66,000 | 42,566 |
| 116i | 70.6% | 63.7% | +6.9 pts | 82,000 | 39,077 |
| 120d | 71.2% | 66.1% | +5.2 pts | 100,000 | 37,029 |
| 218i | 85.7% | 82.8% | +2.9 pts | 37,000 | 36,852 |
| 320d | 86.0% | 81.8% | +4.2 pts | 64,000 | 22,252 |
| 218d | 82.8% | 79.6% | +3.3 pts | 57,000 | 22,053 |
| 420i | 86.5% | 82.3% | +4.2 pts | 41,000 | 21,111 |
| 530d | 75.8% | 63.7% | +12.1 pts | 126,000 | 21,039 |
| 330e | 84.7% | 85.5% | -0.7 pts | 51,000 | 20,711 |
| 320i | 87.4% | 84.7% | +2.6 pts | 35,000 | 18,162 |
| 220d | 82.9% | 79.8% | +3.1 pts | 55,000 | 14,005 |
| 525d | 69.6% | 60.1% | +9.5 pts | 143,000 | 11,349 |
| 435d | 85.4% | 79.1% | +6.4 pts | 61,000 | 10,880 |
| 730d | 81.7% | 70.0% | +11.7 pts | 99,000 | 9,688 |
| 430d | 84.9% | 78.9% | +6.0 pts | 64,000 | 9,649 |
| 640d | 81.6% | 74.2% | +7.4 pts | 72,000 | 9,338 |
| 120i | 75.5% | 66.8% | +8.7 pts | 69,000 | 7,955 |
| 220i | 86.7% | 81.7% | +5.0 pts | 36,000 | 7,515 |
| 535d | 80.0% | 65.8% | +14.1 pts | 115,000 | 7,514 |
| 316i | 66.7% | 62.5% | +4.2 pts | 90,000 | 5,989 |
| 216d | 80.7% | 80.5% | +0.2 pts | 62,000 | 5,586 |
| 316d | 74.4% | 72.9% | +1.5 pts | 99,000 | 4,940 |
| 318d | 85.4% | 83.3% | +2.1 pts | 57,000 | 4,916 |
| 440i | 88.2% | 82.9% | +5.3 pts | 39,000 | 4,840 |
| 330d | 86.8% | 82.2% | +4.6 pts | 58,000 | 4,802 |
| 335d | 87.5% | 81.0% | +6.5 pts | 59,000 | 4,696 |
| 318i | 84.6% | 81.7% | +2.9 pts | 50,000 | 4,295 |
What an MOT pass does not tell you
The MOT is a safety and emissions check on the day. It does not look inside the engine or gearbox, so a clean certificate says nothing about the faults that cost BMW owners the most: N47 timing chains, swirl flaps, N63 timing chains or oil filter housing gasket leaks. Use the MOT history for mileage consistency and advisories, then check the specific engine's known faults.
Methodology
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 test year, Great Britain. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Scope: class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal first tests only (retests excluded), vehicles 3 to 30 years old at test. Pass means passed with no defects needing repair; a "pass after rectification" counts as a fail, as DVSA does. Same-age average is the pass rate of all makes at the same age, weighted to each group's own age mix. Models are grouped from the DVSA make and model fields; items are grouped by the DVSA inspection manual. MOT results reflect condition and maintenance as much as design, and do not cover engine or gearbox reliability.
BMW MOT questions
What is the BMW MOT pass rate?
In 2023, 78.3% of BMWs passed their MOT first time with no repairs needed (1,825,404 tests in Great Britain), compared with 71.4% for all cars. Because BMWs on the road are a slightly different age mix, the fairer comparison is against cars of the same age: BMW comes out +5.9 pts above the average.
Which BMW model has the best MOT pass rate?
Of the eight best-selling BMW models, the 2 Series had the best first-time pass rate at 84.9%, and the 3 Series the lowest at 74.6%. Age and mileage drive most of the gap: the 3 Series fleet is older and higher-mileage on average (95,000 miles vs 45,000). Compared with same-age cars, all eight beat the average. Among lower-volume models the highest are the i8 (90.1%), the M2 (89.0%) and the i3 (88.1%), all typically low-mileage cars.
What do BMWs fail their MOT on most?
The most common BMW MOT failures, as a share of all BMW tests: tyre damage (cuts, bulges, exposed cords) 4.8%; headlight aim 2.7%; tyre tread below the legal limit 2.6%; windscreen washers (often just empty) 2.2%. By area: tyres (7.2%), lights and electrics (7.1%), suspension (4.9%), brakes (4.6%).
Are BMWs more reliable than Audi or Mercedes at MOT?
On MOT results, yes, narrowly. Age-adjusted, BMW is +5.9 pts above average, Audi +5.3 pts and Mercedes-Benz +3.3 pts. Porsche and Lexus lead the table. MOT results measure safety items such as tyres, lights, brakes and suspension, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Does mileage affect a BMW's chance of passing its MOT?
Strongly. BMWs under 30,000 miles passed 89.9% of the time, falling to 71.2% at 90,000 to 120,000 miles and 65.2% above 150,000 miles. By age: 87.6% at 3 to 5 years old, 69.9% at 12 to 14 years.
Does a BMW passing its MOT mean it is a safe buy?
No. The MOT checks safety and emissions items on the day. It does not test the engine internals, timing chain, turbo, gearbox or cooling system, which is where expensive BMW faults such as the N47 timing chain or N57 swirl flaps live. Read the MOT history for advisories and mileage, then check the engine code's known faults before you buy.
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