2010 BMW 1 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 149,162 MOT tests, the 2010 BMW 1 Series recorded a 79.1% pass rate. That is 3.3 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.1%) and suspension (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, headlamp aim and tread depth — shock absorbers alone was recorded 10,109 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.7% versus 8.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.3% fail against 21.8% for diesel, a 3.6-point gap across 149,161 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 13,586 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.5% | 12,704 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.7% | 9,950 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.2% | 9,209 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 8,045 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 4,072 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 10,109 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 7,843 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 6,936 |
| 4 | Washers | 5,724 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 4,096 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 3,679 |
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 | 28.2% | 42,009 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.9% | 37,102 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.2% | 36,115 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.2% | 12,209 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 9,451 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.0% | 8,945 |
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 | 1,689 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 13,584 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 38,456 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 48,044 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 31,057 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 16,299 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 108,753 | 21.8% |
| Petrol | 40,408 | 18.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32,905 | 19.4% |
| 2022 | 32,332 | 20.6% |
| 2023 | 30,586 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 28,030 | 21.6% |
| 2025 | 25,309 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a 2010 1 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.5% 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.
- Tyres (6.7% 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.
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 2010 BMW 1 Seriess pass their MOT?
79.1% of the 149,162 2010 BMW 1 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 BMW 1 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by suspension (8.5%).
Does the 2010 1 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 23.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 149,162 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.