BMW 130: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 130 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 3 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 881 individual BMW 130 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate79.7%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+3 points
Tests analysed881
Average mileage at test115,113 miles
Average year of manufacture2007
Reliability rank1,452 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 79.7% first-time pass rate means roughly 20 in every 100 BMW 130s 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 130 tested had covered 115,113 miles and was built around 2007.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 130 sits 3 points above the national average, ranked 1,452 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 130 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 recorded closing bids for damaged BMW 130s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 130

  1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.8% of tests (3.95x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.8% of tests (1.4x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.7% of tests
  4. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.6% of tests
  5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.3% of tests
  6. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2% of tests
  7. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.9% of tests
  8. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.8% of tests
  9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.6% of tests
  10. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.6% of tests (1.49x the national rate for this defect)

From 879 DVSA-tracked BMW 130 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.92% of these flagged BMW 130 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 130

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 130 before it actually fails on it.

  1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 27% of tests (48.11x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. A transmission shaft flexible coupling excessively deteriorated, 3% of tests (46.37x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 2.7% of tests (3.22x the national rate for this advisory)
  4. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 3.9% of tests (3.04x the national rate for this advisory)
  5. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 3.6% of tests (2.66x the national rate for this advisory)
  6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 14.4% of tests (2.6x the national rate for this advisory)
  7. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 7.8% of tests (2.01x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  8. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 10.2% of tests (1.98x the national rate for this advisory)
  9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 11.6% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 25.9% of tests, also fails

From 879 DVSA-tracked BMW 130 tests, 2024.

BMW 130 pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each BMW 130 year:

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 130 MOT pass rate badge: 79.7%

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BMW 130 most common MOT failure: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (3.8% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-130"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/bmw-130.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="BMW 130 most common MOT failure: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (3.8% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate