2002 BMW Alpina — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 380 MOT tests, the 2002 BMW Alpina recorded an 83.7% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 11.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.6%) and brakes (5.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, headlamp aim and steering rack — washers alone was recorded 12 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.3% in the 30-60k band and 27.1% in the 150k+ band, a 13.8-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.9% in 2021 to 9.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 25 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.0% | 19 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.0% | 15 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.7% | 14 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.7% | 14 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 12 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 7 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 6 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 6 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 5 |
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 | 24.7% | 94 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.9% | 87 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.0% | 57 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 25 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 21 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.3% | 20 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 30 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 83 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 117 | 12.0% |
| 120-150k | 79 | 12.7% |
| 150k+ | 70 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 85 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 76 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 72 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 65 | 9.2% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Alpina
On a 2002 Alpina, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.0% 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.
- Visibility (4.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2002 BMW Alpinas pass their MOT?
83.7% of the 380 2002 BMW Alpina MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 BMW Alpina?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by brakes (5.0%).
Does the 2002 Alpina get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 30-60k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 380 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.