Common problems

BMW common problems by model

23 BMW models, each at its most tested age: the part area MOT testers fail most often, against all cars of the same age. From 7,269,157 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025. Open a model for every area, the items behind it and what to check on a viewing.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026

BMW models with at least 3 ages of 1,000 or more MOT tests. Fails per 100 MOTs in the most common area.
Model	Age	Tests (n)	Most common fail area	Per 100	All cars
3 Series	10 years	134,877	Lights and electrics	10.7	11.2
1 Series	9 years	134,096	Lights and electrics	9.5	9.2
5 Series	7 years	67,547	Tyres	6.8	6.0
2 Series	6 years	79,099	Tyres	6.7	5.6
4 Series	7 years	70,637	Tyres	8.3	6.0
X1	6 years	55,045	Tyres	4.9	5.6
X3	3 years	42,930	Tyres	6.0	4.8
X5	3 years	29,231	Tyres	10.3	4.8
Z4	18 years	11,911	Suspension	11.2	17.2
6 Series	9 years	7,945	Tyres	8.7	6.7
i3	4 years	15,002	Tyres	4.9	4.7
7 Series	6 years	6,699	Tyres	4.8	5.6
X2	4 years	19,215	Tyres	6.3	4.7
X4	6 years	10,953	Tyres	6.1	5.6
X6	7 years	6,670	Tyres	6.2	6.0
M3	20 years	5,712	Lights and electrics	7.0	21.2
M4	7 years	7,742	Tyres	7.0	6.0
Z3	24 years	9,582	Lights and electrics	11.4	17.2
8 Series	3 years	6,053	Tyres	11.8	4.8
M2	6 years	3,578	Tyres	4.6	5.6
M5	9 years	1,740	Tyres	3.6	6.7
i8	7 years	1,720	Tyres	4.1	6.0
X7	3 years	2,668	Tyres	11.5	4.8

For how often each model passes or fails its MOT, see BMW MOT fail rates by model.

Other makes

All makes

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

The all cars figures cover all class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans) tested at the same age.

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources