2012 BMW Alpina — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 295 MOT tests, the 2012 BMW Alpina recorded an 89.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 11.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (3.7%) and tyres (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, coil spring and washers — shock absorbers alone was recorded 8 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 9.8% versus 3.1%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 11.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 3.7% | 11 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 10 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 6 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 4 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.0% | 3 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.0% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 8 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 5 |
| 3 | Washers | 4 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 4 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 4 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 3 |
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 | 11.5% | 34 |
| 2 | Tyres | 10.8% | 32 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.5% | 28 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 15 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 11 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 4 |
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 | 32 | 3.1% |
| 60-90k | 98 | 10.2% |
| 90-120k | 94 | 12.8% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 9.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 265 | 10.9% |
| Petrol | 30 | 6.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 56 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 65 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 63 | 15.9% |
| 2024 | 53 | 3.8% |
| 2025 | 58 | 12.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Alpina
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 3.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (3.7% 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.
- Tyres (3.4% 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 (2.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2012 BMW Alpinas pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 295 2012 BMW Alpina MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 BMW Alpina?
Suspension, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by tyres (3.4%).
Does the 2012 Alpina get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.1% in the 30-60k band to 9.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 295 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.