2007 MINI Mini (R57) — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 MINI Mini (R57) passed 78.6% of its 332 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.9% fail rate), the 2007 Mini (R57) comes out 5.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests against 8.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 35 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 22.7% once past 90-120k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 40 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 27 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 22 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.7% | 19 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.8% | 16 |
| 6 | Suspension | 4.8% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 35 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 18 |
| 4 | Wipers | 16 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 13 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 11 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.5% | 88 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.7% | 82 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.1% | 80 |
| 4 | Suspension | 14.5% | 48 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.5% | 35 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 31 |
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 | 92 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 129 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 75 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 15.9% |
| 2022 | 75 | 25.3% |
| 2023 | 61 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 68 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 59 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Mini (R57)
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (8.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2007 MINI Mini (R57)s pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 332 2007 MINI Mini (R57) MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 MINI Mini (R57)?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (8.1%).
Does the 2007 Mini (R57) get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 30-60k band to 22.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 332 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.