2020 BMW 1 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 BMW 1 Series passed 91.3% of its 82,489 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 8.9%, so the 2020 1 Series sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.8% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 1,352 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.3% versus 7.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (10.1% vs 8.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 4,788 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.4% | 1,111 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 944 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 915 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 433 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 296 |
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 | 1,352 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 918 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 815 |
| 4 | Wipers | 809 |
| 5 | Washers | 474 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 315 |
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 | 22.7% | 18,696 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.8% | 6,434 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 3,854 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 2,017 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 653 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 555 |
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 | 41,304 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 35,272 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 5,131 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 672 | 11.3% |
| 120-150k | 91 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 65,292 | 8.3% |
| Diesel | 17,193 | 10.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 50 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 1,548 | 4.7% |
| 2023 | 27,539 | 8.3% |
| 2024 | 26,570 | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 26,782 | 9.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 1 Series
On a 2020 1 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.8% 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.
- Visibility (1.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (1.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2020 BMW 1 Seriess pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 82,489 2020 BMW 1 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 BMW 1 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by visibility (1.4%).
Does the 2020 1 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 82,489 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.