In 2025, 106,324 BMW X1 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 82% passed first time, compared with 76% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the X1 better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 42 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, 91% of X1s passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 16 years, that figure is 65% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 4 to 16 years.
BMW X1 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | X1 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 4,405 | 91% | 88% | 24,442 |
| 4 years | 5,566 | 92% | 87% | 30,797 |
| 5 years | 6,882 | 90% | 86% | 37,213 |
| 6 years | 13,589 | 89% | 84% | 44,248 |
| 7 years | 14,645 | 86% | 81% | 53,637 |
| 8 years | 13,880 | 84% | 78% | 65,528 |
| 9 years | 12,490 | 83% | 75% | 72,264 |
| 10 years | 4,603 | 78% | 72% | 79,519 |
| 11 years | 7,683 | 73% | 69% | 88,227 |
| 12 years | 6,987 | 73% | 66% | 93,013 |
| 13 years | 5,125 | 69% | 63% | 102,761 |
| 14 years | 5,661 | 69% | 61% | 110,021 |
| 15 years | 4,405 | 68% | 59% | 116,665 |
| 16 years | 396 | 65% | 58% | 121,274 |
What fails most on a BMW X1
The area that lets the X1 down most, relative to other cars, is road wheels: 0.6% of tests failed on it, 4.9 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on body and structure and emissions and leaks.
Share of X1 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 3.9% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.4% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 2.8% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 2.4% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 2.1% |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | Tyres | 1.7% |
What to check when buying a used X1
Based on where the X1 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
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. 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 X1
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a X1Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW X1?
In 2025, 82% of BMW X1 cars passed their MOT first time, across 106,324 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 76%.
What do BMW X1 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (3.9% of tests); a tyre seriously damaged (3.4% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (2.8% of tests).
Other BMW models
BMW 3 Series (73%), BMW 118 (79%), BMW 116 (72%), 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.