In 2025, 77,516 BMW 1 Series cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 78% passed first time, compared with 72% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the 1 Series better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 50 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 6 years old, 86% of 1 Seriess passed first time (all cars that age: 84%). By 20 years, that figure is 61% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 7 to 20 years.
BMW 1 Series All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | 1 Series passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 years | 15,123 | 86% | 84% | 49,160 |
| 7 years | 12,201 | 86% | 81% | 57,961 |
| 8 years | 7,391 | 87% | 78% | 63,010 |
| 9 years | 2,742 | 88% | 75% | 66,585 |
| 10 years | 1,523 | 88% | 72% | 72,452 |
| 11 years | 1,987 | 83% | 69% | 79,948 |
| 12 years | 15,004 | 69% | 66% | 99,387 |
| 13 years | 12,766 | 67% | 63% | 102,199 |
| 14 years | 2,295 | 70% | 61% | 100,618 |
| 15 years | 1,889 | 68% | 59% | 111,051 |
| 16 years | 1,621 | 65% | 58% | 115,058 |
| 17 years | 1,131 | 66% | 57% | 116,960 |
| 18 years | 758 | 64% | 57% | 121,399 |
| 19 years | 480 | 61% | 57% | 136,113 |
| 20 years | 439 | 61% | 58% | 134,139 |
What fails most on a BMW 1 Series
The area that lets the 1 Series down most, relative to other cars, is road wheels: 1.5% of tests failed on it, 12.2 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on body and structure and suspension.
Share of 1 Series tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 3.7% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.5% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.2% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 2.7% |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | Suspension | 2.6% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 2.4% |
What to check when buying a used 1 Series
Based on where the 1 Series fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Road wheels: Look for damaged rims and missing wheel nuts. More
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific 1 Series
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a 1 SeriesFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 1 Series?
In 2025, 78% of BMW 1 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 77,516 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 72%.
What do BMW 1 Series cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (3.7% of tests); a tyre seriously damaged (3.5% of tests); tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (3.2% of tests).
Other BMW models
BMW 3 Series (73%), BMW 118 (79%), BMW X1 (82%), BMW 116 (72%), BMW X3 (79%), BMW X5 (79%). All BMW models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.