2016 BMW 2 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 BMW 2 Series passed 88.1% of its 120,280 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 10.8% of the time, so this is 1.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.9%) and lighting & signalling (4.5%) 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 3,411 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.6% in the 0-30k band and 16.4% in the 150k+ band, a 9.8-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.7pp more often than hybrid ones (12.5% vs 9.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 7,134 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 5,400 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.1% | 2,577 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 2,555 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 2,349 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 1,210 |
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 | 3,411 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,829 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2,165 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,654 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,345 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,101 |
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 | 23.3% | 28,023 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.9% | 16,681 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 7,940 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.9% | 7,073 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 3,121 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 2,677 |
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 | 17,876 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 56,770 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 32,706 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 9,811 | 17.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,326 | 17.4% |
| 150k+ | 787 | 16.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 62,504 | 12.5% |
| Petrol | 55,213 | 11.3% |
| Hybrid | 2,554 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,628 | 9.4% |
| 2022 | 23,905 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 24,055 | 11.9% |
| 2024 | 24,297 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 24,395 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 2 Series
On a 2016 2 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2016 BMW 2 Seriess pass their MOT?
88.1% of the 120,280 2016 BMW 2 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 BMW 2 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.5%).
Does the 2016 2 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 16.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 120,280 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.