2018 BMW 1 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
152,422 MOT tests on the 2018 BMW 1 Series are in this dataset, and 89.8% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (10.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.6%) and lighting & signalling (3.9%) 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 brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 4,755 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.1% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.6% fail against 11.3% for diesel, a 1.7-point gap across 152,422 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 8,594 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 5,887 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.8% | 2,761 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 2,377 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 1,546 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 726 |
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 | 4,755 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 4,048 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2,558 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,710 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,183 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,128 |
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 | 20.7% | 31,553 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 18,692 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 8,365 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 4,301 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 3,748 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 2,748 |
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 | 50,743 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 74,592 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 22,356 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,907 | 15.5% |
| 120-150k | 657 | 16.0% |
| 150k+ | 160 | 18.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 95,426 | 9.6% |
| Diesel | 56,996 | 11.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31,409 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 30,493 | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 30,385 | 10.4% |
| 2024 | 29,921 | 11.2% |
| 2025 | 30,214 | 11.7% |
What to check before buying a 2018 1 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.6% 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 (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.8% 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 2018 BMW 1 Seriess pass their MOT?
89.8% of the 152,422 2018 BMW 1 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 BMW 1 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.9%).
Does the 2018 1 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 18.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 152,422 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.