BMW 114d — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 114d passed 81.6% of its 9,267 MOT tests, covering model years 2005–2016. That is 2.4 percentage points worse than the 16.0% fail rate across all BMW 1 Series versions, so the 114d is a weaker pick within the range. Failures concentrate in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, tread depth and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 714 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.4% versus 9.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 4,695 | 81.5% | 18.6% |
| 2014 | 3,584 | 82.0% | 18.0% |
| 2015 | 939 | 81.5% | 18.5% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 1,226 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.3% | 681 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.4% | 501 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 364 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.9% | 266 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.4% | 129 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 62 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 53 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 714 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 500 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 381 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 333 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 295 |
| 6 | Washers | 277 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 29.9% | 2,774 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.6% | 2,186 |
| 3 | Other defects | 15.5% | 1,438 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.1% | 843 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 411 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 246 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 74 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,323 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,335 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,829 | 19.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,245 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 461 | 20.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,915 | 16.9% |
| 2022 | 1,894 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 1,858 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 1,807 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 1,793 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a BMW 114d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (5.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How reliable is the BMW 114d at MOT time?
81.6% of the 9,267 BMW 114d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.4% fail rate, worse than the 16.0% average across all 1 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 114d?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by tyres (7.3%).
Does the 114d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,267 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.