2021 BMW 2 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 BMW 2 Series passed 90.8% of its 26,319 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 7.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.1% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, 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 431 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 0-30k band and 18.0% in the 90-120k band, a 10.3-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.1% of the time against 9.7% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.0% of tests failed in 2023 against 8.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 1,605 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 466 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.1% | 286 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 265 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 121 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 111 |
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 | 431 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 294 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 285 |
| 4 | Washers | 183 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 114 |
| 6 | Wipers | 111 |
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 | 21.6% | 5,682 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.8% | 1,778 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.1% | 1,339 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 541 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 249 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 247 |
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 | 14,507 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 10,243 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,322 | 13.8% |
| 90-120k | 211 | 18.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 22,277 | 9.1% |
| Diesel | 3,474 | 9.7% |
| Hybrid | 568 | 9.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,017 | 7.0% |
| 2024 | 12,776 | 9.7% |
| 2025 | 12,486 | 8.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 2 Series
On a 2021 2 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.1% 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 (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.1% 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 2021 BMW 2 Seriess pass their MOT?
90.8% of the 26,319 2021 BMW 2 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 BMW 2 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).
Does the 2021 2 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 18.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,319 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.