BMW 130i — MOT pass rate & failures
5,263 MOT tests on the BMW 130i (2002–2022) give an 82.8% pass rate. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than the 16.0% fail rate across all BMW 1 Series versions, so the 130i is a weaker pick within the range. Failures concentrate in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 249 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.4% versus 7.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.3% in 2021 to 16.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1,078 | 80.5% | 19.5% |
| 2006 | 1,635 | 81.9% | 18.1% |
| 2007 | 1,694 | 85.4% | 14.6% |
| 2008 | 609 | 81.8% | 18.2% |
| 2009 | 161 | 80.8% | 19.3% |
| 2010 | 32 | 84.4% | 15.6% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 407 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 315 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.6% | 295 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.6% | 244 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 200 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 99 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 61 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.0% | 51 |
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 | 249 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 164 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 148 |
| 4 | Washers | 145 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 98 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 98 |
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 | 33.0% | 1,737 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.6% | 1,189 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.1% | 1,112 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 623 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 449 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.5% | 394 |
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 | 63 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 339 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,018 | 13.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,635 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,440 | 18.2% |
| 150k+ | 762 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,126 | 18.3% |
| 2022 | 1,095 | 16.4% |
| 2023 | 1,058 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 1,020 | 17.2% |
| 2025 | 964 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a BMW 130i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.0% 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.
- Suspension (5.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 130i at MOT time?
82.8% of the 5,263 BMW 130i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate, worse than the 16.0% average across all 1 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 130i?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by brakes (6.0%).
Does the 130i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,263 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.