Bmw common problems and MOT failures

From 3,593,629 MOT tests in 2024, 12.4% of Bmw vehicles failed. Below are the most common reasons, ranked by how often they occur.

Top Bmw MOT failure reasons

#	Problem	Occurrences	% of failures
1	tyre seriously damaged	70,900	17.9%
2	tyre tread depth outside legal limits	63,191	15.9%
3	suspension pin, bush or joint worn	49,814	12.6%
4	tyre cords visible or damaged	43,503	11.0%
5	shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage	33,640	8.5%
6	the aim of a headlamp is not within limits the requirements	32,035	8.1%
7	windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	30,346	7.7%
8	brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	27,484	6.9%
9	lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	25,356	6.4%
10	spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	20,185	5.1%

What this means if you're buying a Bmw

The single most common MOT failure for Bmw is tyre seriously damaged, accounting for 18% of all failure items. A set of new tyres typically costs £200–£500 depending on size.

These figures are from real MOT inspections — they show what testers actually find wrong with Bmw vehicles. If you're viewing a used Bmw, it's worth checking these areas specifically.

Bmw models by MOT pass rate

Lowest pass rates first — these models have the most testable issues.

Model	Tests	Pass rate
Z3	27,461	78.8%
316	17,169	81.1%
525	26,057	82.3%
120	77,488	82.8%
3 Series	689,310	83.5%
116	190,804	84.2%
530	44,032	85.1%
520	131,208	85.4%
Z4	65,171	86.2%
118	229,516	86.7%
X3	176,658	87.3%
X5	184,014	88.1%
1 Series	147,739	88.1%
220	23,453	88.4%
535	17,266	88.4%

Buying a specific Bmw? Check the individual vehicle's MOT history for free on GOV.UK to see its actual test results, advisories, and mileage readings.

Check MOT history on GOV.UK