2006 · 18 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2006 MINI Cooper S MOT pass rate and common faults

195 MOT tests in 2024. 59.5% passed first time, compared with 56.1% for all cars the same age.

106Above average
Passed first time59.5%
Failed or needed repairs40.5%
Typical mileage at test90,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 195 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.6%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.1%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.1%
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.6%
  5. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.6%
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.6%
  7. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits3.6%
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.6%
    6 marked dangerous
  9. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.6%
  10. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics20.0%
  2. Suspension19.0%
  3. Brakes15.9%
  4. Body & chassis12.3%
  5. Emissions & leaks11.3%
  6. Tyres7.2%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.2%
  8. Seat belts & airbags2.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine35.4%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded26.2%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened16.4%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened12.8%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm11.3%

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: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2006 MINI Cooper S?

In 2024, 59.5% of 2006 MINI Cooper S cars passed their MOT first time, across 195 tests. The average for all 18-year-old cars was 56.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2006 MINI Cooper S?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2006 MINI Cooper S reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 106, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).