BMW: MOT pass rate and reliability

BMW vehicles pass the MOT first time 82.5% of the time, measured across 1,866,062 DVSA tests. That is 5.5 points better than the 77% national average, ranking BMW 10 of 50 major brands sold in the UK.

Looking at a written-off BMW rather than a roadworthy one? The median recorded closing bid for a damaged BMW was £675, from 448 ended listings across every BMW model. These bids are not independently confirmed sales.

Bidding on a damaged BMW at Copart? Run the lot through the salvage profit analyzer for the repair cost, fees, VAT and your maximum bid. Buying a used BMW, damaged or not? Run its registration through the free vehicle history check first: these are brand averages, that page checks the exact car.

Every brand ranked

  1. Ferrari - 95.9%
  2. LEVC - 95.4%
  3. Aston Martin - 93.2%
  4. Bentley - 92.5%
  5. Porsche - 88.7%
  6. Lexus - 87.7%
  7. Tesla - 84.8%
  8. Maserati - 84.3%
  9. MG - 83.9%
  10. BMW - 82.5%
  11. Jaguar - 81.9%
  12. Abarth - 81.8%
  13. Audi - 81.6%
  14. MINI - 81.6%
  15. Toyota - 81.3%
  16. Land Rover - 80.6%
  17. Skoda - 80.6%
  18. Mercedes-Benz - 79.9%
  19. Suzuki - 79.5%
  20. Kia - 78.9%
  21. Hyundai - 78.8%
  22. SEAT - 78.7%
  23. Subaru - 78.6%
  24. Honda - 78.3%
  25. Dacia - 78.3%
  26. Volvo - 78.2%
  27. Jeep - 78%
  28. Smart - 77.6%
  29. Volkswagen - 77.1%
  30. Mazda - 77%
  31. Mitsubishi - 76.9%
  32. DS - 76.2%
  33. London Taxis International - 75.5%
  34. Ford - 74.8%
  35. Isuzu - 73.7%
  36. Nissan - 73.4%
  37. Peugeot - 73.2%
  38. Fiat - 73%
  39. Ssangyong - 73%
  40. Vauxhall - 72.4%
  41. Alfa Romeo - 72.4%
  42. Citroen - 70.8%
  43. Iveco - 70.2%
  44. Rover - 70.2%
  45. Saab - 69.1%
  46. Renault - 68.1%
  47. Chrysler - 67.2%
  48. Daihatsu - 67.1%
  49. Chrysler-Jeep - 67%
  50. Chevrolet - 62.8%

BMW models

Most common MOT failures across every BMW

Pooled across all BMW models, not just one: what actually fails on a BMW more than the UK average.

  1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.7% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.2% of tests (1.32x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.6% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.8% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.2% of tests
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.4% of tests
  7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.6% of tests
  8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.5% of tests
  9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.4% of tests
  10. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.3% of tests

From 1,875,368 DVSA-tracked BMW tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 6.68% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories across every BMW

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. Pooled across all BMW models, this is a different list from the failures above.

  1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 3.3% of tests (5.92x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 29.6% of tests, also fails
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 9.9% of tests, also fails
  4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 9% of tests, also fails
  5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 8.9% of tests, also fails
  6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 8.4% of tests
  7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 5.3% of tests
  8. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4.4% of tests, also fails
  9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 3.7% of tests
  10. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.9% of tests

From 1,875,368 DVSA-tracked BMW tests, 2024.

More on brand reliability

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BMW MOT pass rate badge: 82.5%

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/make/bmw"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/make/bmw.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="BMW MOT Pass Rate: 82.5% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

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BMW most common MOT failure: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (1.7% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/make/bmw"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/make/failure/bmw.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="BMW most common MOT failure: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (1.7% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>