2006 · 18 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2006 BMW 1 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

8,022 MOT tests in 2024. 61.4% passed first time, compared with 56.1% for all cars the same age.

109Well above average
Passed first time61.4%
Failed or needed repairs38.6%
Typical mileage at test125,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 8,022 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak4.7%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.1%
    533 marked dangerous
  3. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated3.4%
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.9%
  5. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.6%
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.6%
    293 marked dangerous
  7. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid2.5%
  8. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.4%
  9. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.0%
  10. Position lamp: not working2.0%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics22.2%
  2. Brakes19.9%
  3. Suspension13.8%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)9.9%
  5. Tyres9.1%
  6. Emissions & leaks8.4%
  7. Body & chassis2.9%
  8. Seat belts & airbags2.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated22.8%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm22.2%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine16.1%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened11.7%
  5. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded11.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2005 1 SeriesAll 1 Series years2007 1 Series →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2006 BMW 1 Series?

In 2024, 61.4% of 2006 BMW 1 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 8,022 tests. The average for all 18-year-old cars was 56.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2006 BMW 1 Series?

The most common failure reasons were shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2006 BMW 1 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 109, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).