Repair costs
BMW repair costs by model and MOT fail item
DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 7,221,985 MOT tests · Updated
11 of 18 BMW models need at least one repair clearly more or less often than class 4 vehicles the same age, from 7,221,985 MOT tests [1].
Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.
Prices are national; what differs by model is how often MOTs call for a repair.
Repairs BMW models need more or less often
| Repair | Models more often | Models less often |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel nut or bolt replacement cost | 7 | 0 |
| Number plate replacement cost | 3 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light repair cost | 2 | 0 |
| Shock absorber replacement cost | 2 | 0 |
| Headlight alignment cost | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension arm bush replacement cost | 1 | 0 |
BMW models one by one
BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 Series common problems 1,972,463 MOT tests
- BMW 3 Series shock absorber replacement: fails 2.1× (2.07–2.11×) as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
- BMW 3 Series wheel nut or bolt replacement: fails 1.7× (1.68–1.75×) as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
BMW 1 Series
BMW 1 Series common problems 1,589,384 MOT tests
- BMW 1 Series wheel nut or bolt replacement: fails 2.4–2.5× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
- BMW 1 Series shock absorber replacement: fails 2.0–2.1× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
BMW 5 Series
BMW 5 Series common problems 849,601 MOT tests
- BMW 5 Series wheel nut or bolt replacement: fails 1.7–1.8× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
BMW 2 Series
BMW 2 Series common problems 478,855 MOT tests
- BMW 2 Series wheel nut or bolt replacement: fails 2.1–2.3× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
BMW 4 Series
BMW 4 Series common problems 417,430 MOT tests
- BMW 4 Series wheel nut or bolt replacement: fails 2.0–2.2× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
- BMW 4 Series number plate replacement: fails 1.6–1.8× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
BMW X1
BMW X1 common problems 414,040 MOT tests
- BMW X1 suspension arm bush replacement: fails 2.0× (1.95–2.04×) as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
BMW X3
BMW X3 common problems 404,678 MOT tests
No repair differs clearly from class 4 vehicles of the same ages and fuel.
BMW X5
BMW X5 common problems 366,311 MOT tests
No repair differs clearly from class 4 vehicles of the same ages and fuel.
BMW Z4
BMW Z4 common problems 141,225 MOT tests
- BMW Z4 airbag warning light repair: fails 1.9–2.1× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
BMW 6 Series
BMW 6 Series common problems 89,667 MOT tests
No repair differs clearly from class 4 vehicles of the same ages and fuel.
BMW i3
BMW i3 common problems 85,743 MOT tests
- BMW i3 headlight alignment: fails 1.5–1.6× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series common problems 72,995 MOT tests
- BMW 7 Series airbag warning light repair: fails 1.5–1.7× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
BMW X2
BMW X2 common problems 68,516 MOT tests
No repair differs clearly from class 4 vehicles of the same ages and fuel.
BMW X4
BMW X4 common problems 65,595 MOT tests
- BMW X4 number plate replacement: fails 1.8–2.3× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
- BMW X4 wheel nut or bolt replacement: fails 1.4–1.9× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
BMW X6
BMW X6 common problems 61,274 MOT tests
- BMW X6 number plate replacement: fails 2.2–2.6× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
- BMW X6 wheel nut or bolt replacement: fails 1.6–2.0× as often as class 4 vehicles the same age
BMW M3
BMW M3 common problems 59,765 MOT tests
No repair differs clearly from class 4 vehicles of the same ages and fuel.
BMW M4
BMW M4 common problems 47,927 MOT tests
No repair differs clearly from class 4 vehicles of the same ages and fuel.
BMW Z3
BMW Z3 common problems 36,516 MOT tests
No repair differs clearly from class 4 vehicles of the same ages and fuel.
Which repairs is one car heading for?
The prices here are for the job, not for one car. A car's MOT history, by registration, lists the advisories its testers recorded, which are often the next repairs.
- Check a BMW's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
Questions people ask
Which repair do BMW models need more often than other cars?
7 BMW models fail on the items wheel nut or bolt replacement fixes clearly more often than class 4 vehicles of the same ages and fuel.
Do BMW repairs cost more?
6 repairs are listed here with national prices: the price does not change by make in this data, only how often MOTs call for the repair.
Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.
Sources
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 7,221,985 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
Rates are per 100 MOT tests of class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans) at each age. Model comparisons are against all class 4 vehicles of the same ages and fuel, pooled over 2022 to 2025 tests: they are not matched on test year or on mileage. Advisory figures count pairs of consecutive MOT tests of the same vehicle: "next MOT" means its next test 300 to 500 days (about 10 to 16 months) later, and the no-advisory comparison is standardised to the advised vehicles' age bands. Repairs between MOTs and breakdowns are not in this data. How we compare