BMW 114i — MOT pass rate & failures
11,073 MOT tests on the BMW 114i (2011–2016) give an 83.8% pass rate. That tracks the BMW 1 Series range as a whole almost exactly. 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 674 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.3% versus 8.6%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 707 | 81.2% | 18.8% |
| 2013 | 6,430 | 83.2% | 16.8% |
| 2014 | 3,285 | 85.0% | 15.0% |
| 2015 | 648 | 87.2% | 12.8% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 1,274 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.4% | 704 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.7% | 414 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 370 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 276 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 238 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 124 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.5% | 59 |
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 | 674 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 476 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 468 |
| 4 | Washers | 273 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 266 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 247 |
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 | 26.7% | 2,955 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.0% | 2,330 |
| 3 | Other defects | 14.0% | 1,549 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 764 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.1% | 675 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 461 |
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 | 312 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 3,285 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 4,950 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,024 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 418 | 17.5% |
| 150k+ | 83 | 19.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,263 | 14.4% |
| 2022 | 2,275 | 14.8% |
| 2023 | 2,253 | 16.6% |
| 2024 | 2,181 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 2,101 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a BMW 114i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.4% 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 (3.7% 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 114i at MOT time?
83.8% of the 11,073 BMW 114i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.2% fail rate, in line with the 16.0% average across all 1 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 114i?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by tyres (6.4%).
Does the 114i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 19.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,073 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.