BMW 2 Series: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 2 Series passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 11.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 21,137 individual BMW 2 Series tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate87.9%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+11.2 points
Tests analysed21,137
Average mileage at test44,442 miles
Average year of manufacture2018
Reliability rank997 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 87.9% first-time pass rate means roughly 12 in every 100 BMW 2 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 2 Series tested had covered 44,442 miles and was built around 2018.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 2 Series sits 11.2 points above the national average, ranked 997 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 2 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 2 Series: £4,300 at UK salvage auction, from 24 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 2 Series

  1. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.4% of tests (6.49x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.4% of tests (2.12x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.6% of tests (1.53x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 4% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.8% of tests
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.8% of tests
  7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.7% of tests
  8. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.7% of tests
  9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.6% of tests
  10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.5% of tests

From 21,212 DVSA-tracked BMW 2 Series tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 9.77% of these flagged BMW 2 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 2 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 2 Series before it actually fails on it.

  1. Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted, 0.2% of tests (2.62x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.5% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 24% of tests, also fails
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 10.7% of tests, also fails
  5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 7.4% of tests, also fails
  6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 3.3% of tests
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.5% of tests
  8. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.7% of tests
  9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.3% of tests, also fails
  10. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 1.1% of tests

From 21,212 DVSA-tracked BMW 2 Series tests, 2024.

BMW 2 Series pass rate by model year

From its 2014 to its 2021 model year, the BMW 2 Series's first-time pass rate has risen 8.7 points, from 82.7% to 91.4%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 2 Series year:

BMW 2 Series by fuel type

The BMW 2 Series's two most-tested fuel types split by 1.3 points: petrol passes first time 88.7% of the time (16,693 tests) against 87.4% for diesel (3,436 tests).

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 2 Series MOT pass rate badge: 87.9%

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BMW 2 Series most common MOT failure: Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (0.4% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate