2003 BMW Alpina — MOT failures & pass rate
309 MOT tests on the 2003 BMW Alpina are in this dataset, and 85.1% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2003 Alpina comes out 12.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.2%) and suspension (5.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 10 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 18.4% once past 120-150k — 2.8× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.3% in 2021 to 11.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 19 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.2% | 16 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.9% | 15 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.6% | 11 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 7 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.9% | 6 |
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 | 10 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 10 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 7 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 7 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 6 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 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 | 26.9% | 83 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.1% | 62 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.9% | 43 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 36 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.4% | 32 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 30 | 6.7% |
| 60-90k | 102 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 75 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 18.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 20.3% |
| 2022 | 66 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 67 | 14.9% |
| 2024 | 54 | 11.1% |
| 2025 | 53 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Alpina
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.2% 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.
- Brakes (4.9% 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 2003 BMW Alpinas pass their MOT?
85.1% of the 309 2003 BMW Alpina MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 BMW Alpina?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by suspension (5.2%).
Does the 2003 Alpina get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 30-60k band to 18.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 309 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.