2000 BMW Alpina — MOT failures & pass rate
340 MOT tests on the 2000 BMW Alpina are in this dataset, and 81.5% of them passed. That is 8.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.6%) and brakes (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2000 Alpina fails 15.9% of the time in the 60-90k band and 18.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.4% in 2021 to 13.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 26 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.5% | 22 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.9% | 20 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.0% | 17 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.9% | 10 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.4% | 8 |
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 | 12 |
| 2 | Washers | 12 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 12 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 9 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 9 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 8 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 29.7% | 101 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.5% | 90 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.0% | 51 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.2% | 45 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 35 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.8% | 23 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 69 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 127 | 18.1% |
| 120-150k | 67 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 78 | 19.2% |
| 2023 | 66 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 68 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 61 | 13.1% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Alpina
On a 2000 Alpina, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.5% 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.
- Suspension (5.9% 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 2000 BMW Alpinas pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 340 2000 BMW Alpina MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 BMW Alpina?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by brakes (6.5%).
Does the 2000 Alpina get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.9% in the 60-90k band to 18.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 340 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.