2022 BMW 1 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
16,326 MOT tests on the 2022 BMW 1 Series are in this dataset, and 93.1% of them passed. That is 1.0 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 7.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.2% of all tests — 4.2 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 227 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2022 1 Series fails 5.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.5 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (9.0% vs 6.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 850 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 161 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 130 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 109 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 44 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 38 |
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 | 227 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 164 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 103 |
| 4 | Washers | 78 |
| 5 | Wipers | 62 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 47 |
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 | 19.4% | 3,160 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.1% | 833 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.6% | 749 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 305 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 127 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 85 |
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 | 11,659 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 4,249 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 352 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 54 | 9.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,666 | 6.6% |
| Diesel | 1,660 | 9.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,058 | 3.7% |
| 2025 | 15,249 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a 2022 1 Series
On a 2022 1 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.2% 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 (1.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.8% 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.
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 2022 BMW 1 Seriess pass their MOT?
93.1% of the 16,326 2022 BMW 1 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 BMW 1 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.0%).
Does the 2022 1 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 9.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,326 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.