2017 BMW 2 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 101,004 MOT tests, the 2017 BMW 2 Series recorded an 89.6% pass rate. That is effectively the same as coupes & convertibles of a similar age (9.8% 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 (5.8%) and lighting & signalling (3.5%) 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 2,428 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.8% versus 6.1%.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 9.7% of the time against 11.1% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 5,860 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 3,550 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.8% | 1,844 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 1,563 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 1,360 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 572 |
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 | 2,428 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,186 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,651 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,136 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 780 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 588 |
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 | 21.9% | 22,175 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 12,412 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 6,073 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 4,148 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 2,481 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 1,390 |
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 | 25,506 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 49,729 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 19,461 | 13.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,769 | 16.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,117 | 16.0% |
| 150k+ | 412 | 15.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 48,347 | 9.8% |
| Diesel | 47,540 | 11.1% |
| Hybrid | 5,117 | 9.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,996 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 20,054 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 20,253 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 20,327 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 20,374 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 2 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.5% 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 2017 BMW 2 Seriess pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 101,004 2017 BMW 2 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 BMW 2 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.5%).
Does the 2017 2 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 15.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 101,004 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.