2007 BMW 1 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 BMW 1 Series passed 77.9% of its 72,549 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.8 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.9%) and brakes (8.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 4,392 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.1% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 21.3% fail against 22.9% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 72,549 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 41.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 7,940 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.9% | 6,457 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.4% | 5,377 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 4,691 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 4,301 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 3,340 |
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 | 4,392 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,497 |
| 3 | Washers | 3,172 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 2,981 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 2,493 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 2,140 |
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 | 41.9% | 30,422 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.3% | 21,235 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.6% | 20,027 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.0% | 10,886 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 8,317 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.6% | 7,702 |
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 | 526 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 3,796 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 13,313 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 23,319 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 19,514 | 24.4% |
| 150k+ | 12,047 | 25.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 38,394 | 22.9% |
| Petrol | 34,155 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,951 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 16,994 | 22.0% |
| 2023 | 14,653 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 12,193 | 22.7% |
| 2025 | 9,758 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2007 1 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.9% 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 (7.4% 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 many 2007 BMW 1 Seriess pass their MOT?
77.9% of the 72,549 2007 BMW 1 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 BMW 1 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by brakes (8.9%).
Does the 2007 1 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 25.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 72,549 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.