MINI Cooper Sd: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The MINI Cooper Sd passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 1.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 2,165 individual MINI Cooper Sd tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 78.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 22 in every 100 MINI Cooper Sds 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 Sd tested had covered 87,076 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 Sd sits 1.7 points above the national average, ranked 1,505 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 Sd 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 Sds at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a MINI Cooper Sd

1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.9% of tests (3.02x the national rate for this defect)
2. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 6.5% of tests (2.91x the national rate for this defect)
3. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.8% of tests (2.15x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.7% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this defect)
5. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.6% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this defect)
6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.9% of tests
7. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.9% of tests
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.5% of tests
9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.6% of tests
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.4% of tests

From 2,162 DVSA-tracked MINI Cooper Sd tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.62% of these flagged MINI Cooper Sd 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 Sd

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 Sd before it actually fails on it.

1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 7.6% of tests (7.11x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 2% of tests (2.35x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4% of tests (2.01x 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, 6.9% of tests (1.76x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 7.9% of tests (1.53x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 16.4% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.2% of tests (1.2x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 28.6% of tests, also fails
9. A tyre seriously damaged, 14.9% of tests, also fails
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 12.2% of tests, also fails

From 2,162 DVSA-tracked MINI Cooper Sd tests, 2024.

MINI Cooper Sd pass rate by model year

From its 2011 to its 2013 model year, the MINI Cooper Sd's first-time pass rate has risen 1.7 points, from 76.2% to 77.9%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each MINI Cooper Sd year:

• 2011 MINI Cooper Sd - 76.2% first-time pass, 416 tests
• 2012 MINI Cooper Sd - 80.9% first-time pass, 749 tests
• 2013 MINI Cooper Sd - 77.9% first-time pass, 929 tests

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

• Citroen Dispatch 1000 En-Prise Bhdi Ss - 78.5%
• Kia Venga - 78.4%
• Suzuki Baleno - 78.4%
• BMW 635 - 78.4%
• Mercedes Unclassified - 78.4%
• Lotus Elan - 78.4%

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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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate