BMW 1 Series: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 1 Series passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 4.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 80,456 individual BMW 1 Series tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate81.6%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+4.9 points
Tests analysed80,456
Average mileage at test74,172 miles
Average year of manufacture2015
Reliability rank1,393 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 81.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 18 in every 100 BMW 1 Series presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW 1 Series tested had covered 74,172 miles and was built around 2015.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 1 Series sits 4.9 points above the national average, ranked 1,393 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW 1 Series rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see the median recorded closing bid for a damaged BMW 1 Series: £550 at UK salvage auction, from 108 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 1 Series

  1. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.8% of tests (2.74x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.4% of tests (2.52x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.2% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.6% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.4% of tests
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.9% of tests
  7. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.8% of tests
  8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.8% of tests
  9. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.8% of tests
  10. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.5% of tests

From 80,417 DVSA-tracked BMW 1 Series tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 7.38% of these flagged BMW 1 Series defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 1 Series

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a BMW 1 Series before it actually fails on it.

  1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 2.2% of tests (3.93x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.6% of tests (1.49x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 11.9% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  4. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4.9% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 30.4% of tests, also fails
  6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 9.1% of tests
  7. A tyre seriously damaged, 8.9% of tests, also fails
  8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 5.8% of tests
  9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 4.3% of tests
  10. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3% of tests

From 80,417 DVSA-tracked BMW 1 Series tests, 2024.

BMW 1 Series pass rate by model year

From its 2005 to its 2019 model year, the BMW 1 Series's first-time pass rate has risen 19.3 points, from 69.4% to 88.7%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 1 Series year:

BMW 1 Series by fuel type

The BMW 1 Series's two most-tested fuel types split by 8.7 points: petrol passes first time 85.8% of the time (45,358 tests) against 77.1% for diesel (34,660 tests).

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 1 Series MOT pass rate badge: 81.6%

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BMW 1 Series most common MOT failure: A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud (0.8% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate