In 2025, 100,560 BMW 116 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 72% passed first time, compared with 69% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the 116 about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 87 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 3 years old, 86% of 116s passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 20 years, that figure is 60% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 11 to 19 years.
BMW 116 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | 116 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 689 | 86% | 88% | 38,208 |
| 4 years | 1,471 | 87% | 87% | 45,999 |
| 5 years | 2,282 | 85% | 86% | 53,193 |
| 6 years | 1,306 | 81% | 84% | 58,285 |
| 7 years | 2,299 | 79% | 81% | 66,991 |
| 8 years | 8,178 | 78% | 78% | 76,905 |
| 9 years | 11,555 | 76% | 75% | 85,773 |
| 10 years | 14,261 | 74% | 72% | 89,514 |
| 11 years | 19,037 | 72% | 69% | 91,809 |
| 12 years | 10,291 | 70% | 66% | 97,812 |
| 13 years | 6,335 | 66% | 63% | 103,442 |
| 14 years | 5,732 | 66% | 61% | 104,735 |
| 15 years | 5,025 | 66% | 59% | 108,278 |
| 16 years | 4,674 | 66% | 58% | 104,222 |
| 17 years | 1,914 | 66% | 57% | 98,034 |
| 18 years | 2,108 | 64% | 57% | 108,406 |
| 19 years | 2,115 | 62% | 57% | 111,063 |
| 20 years | 947 | 60% | 58% | 109,113 |
What fails most on a BMW 116
The area that lets the 116 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 116 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 | 5.4% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 4.6% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 3.9% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 3.7% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 2.9% |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | Suspension | 2.6% |
What to check when buying a used 116
Based on where the 116 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
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. Repair guide
- 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
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 116
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a 116Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 116?
In 2025, 72% of BMW 116 cars passed their MOT first time, across 100,560 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 69%.
What do BMW 116 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 (5.4% of tests); tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (4.6% of tests); windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen (3.9% of tests).
Other BMW models
BMW 3 Series (73%), BMW 118 (79%), BMW X1 (82%), BMW X3 (79%), BMW 1 Series (78%), 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.