2001 BMW Alpina — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 BMW Alpina passed 83.3% of its 252 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.0% of the time, so this is 10.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.9%) and brakes (6.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, headlamp aim and ball joint — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 15 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.8% in the 60-90k band and 20.9% in the 150k+ band, a 9.1-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 20 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.8% | 17 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.8% | 17 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 10 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 6 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.0% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 15 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 10 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 7 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 7 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 6 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 29.4% | 74 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.4% | 59 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.1% | 43 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.1% | 38 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 31 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 22 |
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 | 51 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 55 | 7.3% |
| 120-150k | 53 | 28.3% |
| 150k+ | 67 | 20.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64 | 18.8% |
| 2022 | 49 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 47 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 48 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 44 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Alpina
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.8% 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.
- Suspension (6.8% 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 2001 BMW Alpinas pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 252 2001 BMW Alpina MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 BMW Alpina?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by brakes (6.8%).
Does the 2001 Alpina get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 60-90k band to 20.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 252 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.