2010 · 14 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2010 BMW 1 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

21,656 MOT tests in 2024. 66.3% passed first time, compared with 59.6% for all cars the same age.

111Well above average
Passed first time66.3%
Failed or needed repairs33.7%
Typical mileage at test107,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 21,656 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak6.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.5%
    1,215 marked dangerous
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.5%
    767 marked dangerous
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.0%
    583 marked dangerous
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.9%
  7. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.9%
  8. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.7%
  9. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.7%
  10. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.7%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics15.0%
  2. Suspension13.5%
  3. Brakes11.6%
  4. Tyres9.4%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)8.1%
  6. Emissions & leaks4.3%
  7. Body & chassis2.7%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.5%
  2. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak12.4%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.1%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.5%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2009 1 SeriesAll 1 Series years2011 1 Series →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2010 BMW 1 Series?

In 2024, 66.3% of 2010 BMW 1 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 21,656 tests. The average for all 14-year-old cars was 59.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2010 BMW 1 Series?

The most common failure reasons were shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2010 BMW 1 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 111, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).