In 2025, 20,947 BMW 2 Series cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 86% passed first time, compared with 80% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the 2 Series better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 32 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 4 years old, 88% of 2 Seriess passed first time (all cars that age: 87%). By 11 years, that figure is 78% (all cars: 69%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 5 to 11 years.
BMW 2 Series All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | 2 Series passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 years | 300 | 88% | 87% | 24,750 |
| 5 years | 2,001 | 90% | 86% | 30,028 |
| 6 years | 3,535 | 89% | 84% | 38,177 |
| 7 years | 6,881 | 85% | 81% | 51,346 |
| 8 years | 3,436 | 86% | 78% | 57,300 |
| 9 years | 2,252 | 86% | 75% | 60,648 |
| 10 years | 1,501 | 84% | 72% | 67,844 |
| 11 years | 1,025 | 78% | 69% | 76,963 |
What fails most on a BMW 2 Series
The area that lets the 2 Series down most, relative to other cars, is plates and VIN: 0.6% of tests failed on it, 16.3 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on brakes and suspension.
Share of 2 Series tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.6% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 2.3% |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | Tyres | 2.2% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 1.7% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 1.2% |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | Suspension | 0.9% |
What to check when buying a used 2 Series
Based on where the 2 Series fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Plates and VIN: Check the number plates are legal and the VIN matches the V5C logbook. More
- 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
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 2 Series
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a 2 SeriesFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 2 Series?
In 2025, 86% of BMW 2 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 20,947 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 80%.
What do BMW 2 Series cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a tyre seriously damaged (3.6% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (2.3% of tests); a tyre cords visible or damaged (2.2% of tests).
Other BMW models
BMW 3 Series (73%), BMW 118 (79%), BMW X1 (82%), BMW 116 (72%), BMW X3 (79%), BMW 1 Series (78%). 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.