2014 BMW 1 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
182,189 MOT tests on the 2014 BMW 1 Series are in this dataset, and 84.5% of them passed. That is 2.0 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 17.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.4%) and tyres (6.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, tread depth and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 8,970 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.3% versus 6.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.8% fail against 16.4% for diesel, a 2.7-point gap across 182,189 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 17,083 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.9% | 12,505 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.9% | 7,035 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 6,375 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 3,970 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 1,725 |
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 | 8,970 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 7,870 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 6,365 |
| 4 | Washers | 5,065 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 4,840 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 3,595 |
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 | 25.8% | 46,965 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.7% | 37,688 |
| 3 | Other defects | 12.1% | 22,034 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.7% | 12,225 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 7,320 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 5,445 |
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 | 5,463 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 44,369 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 72,042 | 15.6% |
| 90-120k | 41,855 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 14,172 | 19.5% |
| 150k+ | 4,266 | 20.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 120,210 | 16.4% |
| Petrol | 61,979 | 13.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36,898 | 13.7% |
| 2022 | 36,732 | 14.6% |
| 2023 | 36,708 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 36,154 | 16.6% |
| 2025 | 35,697 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 1 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.9% 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 (3.9% 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.
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 2014 BMW 1 Seriess pass their MOT?
84.5% of the 182,189 2014 BMW 1 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 BMW 1 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by tyres (6.9%).
Does the 2014 1 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 20.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 182,189 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.