BMW 225e — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 225e recorded a 90.5% MOT pass rate across 7,290 tests in this dataset (model years 2016–2023), with tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension its most common failure areas. Its 9.5% fail rate is lower than the 10.8% average across all BMW 2 Series versions.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2,514 | 90.3% | 9.7% |
| 2017 | 3,767 | 90.4% | 9.6% |
| 2018 | 734 | 91.1% | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 185 | 91.3% | 8.6% |
| 2023 | 57 | 93.0% | 7.0% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 452 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 271 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.6% | 116 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 108 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.7% | 52 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 24 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 18 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 15 |
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 | 192 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 106 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 78 |
| 4 | Washers | 76 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 68 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 38 |
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 | 24.5% | 1,786 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.8% | 569 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 442 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 170 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 169 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 44 |
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 | 1,505 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,982 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,848 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 698 | 12.8% |
| 120-150k | 204 | 12.3% |
| 150k+ | 53 | 17.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,405 | 7.6% |
| 2022 | 1,373 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 1,413 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 1,462 | 11.7% |
| 2025 | 1,637 | 10.7% |
What to check before buying a BMW 225e
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (6.2% 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 (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.6% 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 reliable is the BMW 225e at MOT time?
90.5% of the 7,290 BMW 225e MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate, better than the 10.8% average across all 2 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 225e?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.7%).
Does the 225e get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 17.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,290 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-06. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.