2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 BMW 1 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

27,791 MOT tests in 2024. 67.5% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time67.5%
Failed or needed repairs32.5%
Typical mileage at test96,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 27,791 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working5.4%
  2. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak4.1%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.4%
    1,568 marked dangerous
  4. Side repeaters: not working2.4%
  5. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.3%
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.9%
    782 marked dangerous
  7. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.7%
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.6%
    630 marked dangerous
  9. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.5%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics19.9%
  2. Suspension12.5%
  3. Tyres9.2%
  4. Brakes8.7%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.4%
  6. Emissions & leaks3.0%
  7. Wheels1.3%
  8. Body & chassis1.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.7%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.9%
  3. Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)9.8%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.8%
  5. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak7.3%

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: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 BMW 1 Series?

In 2024, 67.5% of 2012 BMW 1 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 27,791 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 BMW 1 Series?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 BMW 1 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).