BMW 116d — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 116d passed 84.0% of its 411,844 MOT tests, covering model years 2004–2024. 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 tread depth, headlamp aim and position lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 18,577 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.6% in the 0-30k band and 22.7% in the 150k+ band, a 15.0-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 35 | 62.9% | 37.1% |
| 2005 | 145 | 76.5% | 23.4% |
| 2006 | 134 | 78.4% | 21.6% |
| 2007 | 299 | 77.6% | 22.4% |
| 2008 | 206 | 74.8% | 25.2% |
| 2009 | 14,142 | 77.2% | 22.8% |
| 2010 | 19,884 | 78.0% | 22.0% |
| 2011 | 20,617 | 79.2% | 20.8% |
| 2012 | 22,758 | 79.1% | 20.9% |
| 2013 | 42,635 | 82.4% | 17.6% |
| 2014 | 72,868 | 83.3% | 16.7% |
| 2015 | 71,551 | 84.9% | 15.1% |
| 2016 | 67,869 | 86.2% | 13.8% |
| 2017 | 47,076 | 87.9% | 12.1% |
| 2018 | 13,485 | 87.8% | 12.3% |
| 2019 | 6,035 | 88.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020 | 7,895 | 89.2% | 10.8% |
| 2021 | 3,359 | 90.3% | 9.7% |
| 2022 | 807 | 88.6% | 11.4% |
| 2023 | 43 | 90.7% | 9.3% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 36,594 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.6% | 27,010 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.1% | 16,817 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 15,084 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.3% | 13,410 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 4,690 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 3,970 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 3,812 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 18,577 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 17,153 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 12,375 |
| 4 | Washers | 11,542 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 11,227 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 9,566 |
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% | 110,125 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.8% | 85,636 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.7% | 40,049 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.4% | 38,603 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 17,693 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 13,033 |
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 | 19,578 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 101,108 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 135,899 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 93,741 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 42,989 | 21.2% |
| 150k+ | 18,454 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81,245 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 82,235 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 83,733 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 83,154 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 81,477 | 17.6% |
What to check before buying a BMW 116d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.6% 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 (4.1% 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 116d at MOT time?
84.0% of the 411,844 BMW 116d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate, in line with the 16.0% average across all 1 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 116d?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by tyres (6.6%).
Does the 116d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 22.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 411,844 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.