2017 BMW 1 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
186,212 MOT tests on the 2017 BMW 1 Series are in this dataset, and 89.2% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 11.9% of the time, so this is 1.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.7%) and lighting & signalling (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 5,966 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.5% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.0pp more often than petrol ones (11.7% vs 9.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 10,660 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 7,496 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.2% | 4,112 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 3,327 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 1,777 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 1,285 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 5,966 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 5,273 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 3,545 |
| 4 | Washers | 2,487 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 2,124 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,130 |
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 | 22.0% | 40,955 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.4% | 26,835 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.4% | 10,066 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.5% | 6,484 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 5,496 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 4,837 |
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 | 34,375 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 92,781 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 45,372 | 13.4% |
| 90-120k | 11,133 | 15.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,092 | 16.4% |
| 150k+ | 438 | 15.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 98,742 | 11.7% |
| Petrol | 87,470 | 9.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 37,275 | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 37,133 | 9.6% |
| 2023 | 37,300 | 11.3% |
| 2024 | 37,233 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 37,271 | 12.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 1 Series
On a 2017 1 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.2% 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 2017 BMW 1 Seriess pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 186,212 2017 BMW 1 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 BMW 1 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.0%).
Does the 2017 1 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 15.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 186,212 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.