BMW 1 Series: lighting & signalling MOT failures
Lighting & signalling was recorded as a failure area in 7.6% of BMW 1 Series MOT tests — 173,276 tests out of 2,288,981. It shows up most on 2004 and 2005 cars.
Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair cost: £10–£150 (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Lighting & signalling failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 13,176 | 12.9% |
| 2005 | 48,562 | 12.7% |
| 2006 | 64,163 | 12.5% |
| 2007 | 72,549 | 10.9% |
| 2008 | 107,097 | 9.7% |
| 2009 | 130,176 | 9.4% |
| 2010 | 149,162 | 9.1% |
| 2011 | 141,239 | 9.6% |
| 2012 | 181,168 | 11.7% |
| 2013 | 221,851 | 10.2% |
| 2014 | 182,189 | 9.4% |
| 2015 | 183,970 | 6.2% |
| 2016 | 183,208 | 5.0% |
| 2017 | 186,212 | 4.0% |
| 2018 | 152,422 | 3.9% |
| 2019 | 128,289 | 2.4% |
| 2020 | 82,489 | 1.1% |
| 2021 | 43,176 | 1.3% |
| 2022 | 16,326 | 1.0% |
| 2023 | 1,336 | 0.8% |
Methodology & source. 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.