2013 BMW 1 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 221,851 MOT tests, the 2013 BMW 1 Series recorded an 82.8% pass rate. That is 2.2 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.2% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, tread depth and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 11,646 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.8% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.6pp more often than petrol ones (18.0% vs 15.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 22,639 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.7% | 14,878 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.4% | 9,722 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 9,123 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 7,239 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 2,919 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 11,646 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 9,366 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 8,722 |
| 4 | Washers | 5,501 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 5,446 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 4,659 |
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 | 26.5% | 58,867 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.4% | 47,450 |
| 3 | Other defects | 15.0% | 33,394 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.8% | 21,761 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 9,476 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 8,675 |
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 | 4,795 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 40,755 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 83,288 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 60,552 | 19.7% |
| 120-150k | 24,055 | 20.7% |
| 150k+ | 8,359 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 153,015 | 18.0% |
| Petrol | 68,831 | 15.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 44,951 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 45,081 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 44,860 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 44,034 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 42,925 | 19.5% |
What to check before buying a 2013 1 Series
On a 2013 1 Series, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Brakes (4.4% 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 many 2013 BMW 1 Seriess pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 221,851 2013 BMW 1 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 BMW 1 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.2% of tests, followed by tyres (6.7%).
Does the 2013 1 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 221,851 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.