MINI Cooper S Auto: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The MINI Cooper S Auto passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 8.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 662 individual MINI Cooper S Auto tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 85.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 15 in every 100 MINI Cooper S Autos 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 MINI Cooper S Auto tested had covered 56,493 miles and was built around 2012.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The MINI Cooper S Auto sits 8.8 points above the national average, ranked 1,211 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 MINI Cooper S Auto 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 MINI Cooper S Autos at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a MINI Cooper S Auto

1. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.8% of tests (1.7x the national rate for this defect)
2. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 2.4% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre seriously damaged, 3% of tests
4. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.8% of tests
5. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.7% of tests
6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.2% of tests
7. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.9% of tests
8. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 0.8% of tests
9. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.8% of tests
10. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 0.6% of tests (1.73x the national rate for this defect)

From 662 DVSA-tracked MINI Cooper S Auto tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.75% of these flagged MINI Cooper S Auto defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a MINI Cooper S Auto

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 MINI Cooper S Auto before it actually fails on it.

1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 6.9% of tests (6.51x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 6.6% of tests (2.09x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 7.3% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.6% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 15.4% of tests, also fails
6. A tyre seriously damaged, 13.6% of tests, also fails
7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 9.2% of tests
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 7.6% of tests
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 5.7% of tests
10. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 3.3% of tests, also fails

From 662 DVSA-tracked MINI Cooper S Auto tests, 2024.

Other MINI models

• MINI MINI - 68.5%
• MINI Cooper - 87.9%
• MINI Countryman - 89.1%
• MINI Cooper S - 88.1%
• MINI One - 84.8%
• MINI Clubman - 85.1%
• MINI John Cooper Works - 87.8%
• MINI MINI (R60) - 79%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Abarth 595c - 85.5%
• Kia Proceed GT Isg S-A - 85.5%
• Bentley Turbo - 85.5%
• Land Rover Discovery Sport R-Dynamic Se A - 85.5%
• Mercedes-Benz E 220 Amg Lne Night Ed Prm D A - 85.5%
• Mercedes-Benz Unclassified - 85.5%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/mini-cooper-s-auto"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/mini-cooper-s-auto.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="MINI Cooper S Auto most common MOT failure: A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (3.8% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate