2013 · 11 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2013 BMW 1 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

35,196 MOT tests in 2024. 71.7% passed first time, compared with 66.8% for all cars the same age.

107Above average
Passed first time71.7%
Failed or needed repairs28.3%
Typical mileage at test90,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 35,196 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working5.1%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.3%
    1,851 marked dangerous
  3. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.4%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%
    997 marked dangerous
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.5%
    709 marked dangerous
  6. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5%
  7. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.4%
  8. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.3%
  9. Side repeaters: not working1.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics16.1%
  2. Tyres9.1%
  3. Brakes7.9%
  4. Suspension7.3%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.3%
  6. Emissions & leaks2.2%
  7. Wheels1.4%
  8. Body & chassis0.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.2%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.0%
  3. Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)10.5%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.8%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure4.8%

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.

← 2012 1 SeriesAll 1 Series years2014 1 Series →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2013 BMW 1 Series?

In 2024, 71.7% of 2013 BMW 1 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 35,196 tests. The average for all 11-year-old cars was 66.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2013 BMW 1 Series?

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

Is the 2013 BMW 1 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 107, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).