BMW 116i — MOT pass rate & failures
230,546 MOT tests on the BMW 116i (1996–2025) give an 81.7% pass rate. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than the 16.0% fail rate across all BMW 1 Series versions, so the 116i 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 headlamp aim, tread depth and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 10,631 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.4% versus 7.4%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 3,456 | 75.7% | 24.3% |
| 2005 | 10,735 | 76.5% | 23.5% |
| 2006 | 21,097 | 77.4% | 22.6% |
| 2007 | 19,204 | 78.4% | 21.6% |
| 2008 | 16,649 | 79.0% | 21.0% |
| 2009 | 22,990 | 80.2% | 19.9% |
| 2010 | 18,416 | 81.2% | 18.8% |
| 2011 | 20,273 | 82.0% | 18.0% |
| 2012 | 19,006 | 82.1% | 17.9% |
| 2013 | 21,738 | 84.7% | 15.3% |
| 2014 | 43,212 | 85.9% | 14.1% |
| 2015 | 13,603 | 86.8% | 13.2% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 22,549 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.0% | 13,842 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.7% | 13,028 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.0% | 11,404 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.6% | 10,642 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 9,182 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 3,174 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 2,452 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 10,631 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 9,688 |
| 3 | Washers | 8,405 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 7,189 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 5,713 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 5,678 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.4% | 65,431 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.8% | 61,783 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.2% | 35,035 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.2% | 25,774 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 20,693 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 14,574 |
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 | 8,002 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 51,186 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 83,264 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 60,223 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 22,181 | 24.9% |
| 150k+ | 5,627 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52,625 | 17.5% |
| 2022 | 49,878 | 17.9% |
| 2023 | 46,703 | 18.4% |
| 2024 | 42,803 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 38,537 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a BMW 116i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.0% 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 (5.7% 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 116i at MOT time?
81.7% of the 230,546 BMW 116i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate, worse than the 16.0% average across all 1 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 116i?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by tyres (6.0%).
Does the 116i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 26.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 230,546 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.