Know Your MOT
21.2%fail rate

BMW Mini One common MOT failures and failure rate

What a BMW Mini One fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 66 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 21.2% of MOT tests recorded on the BMW Mini One in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is tyres, which makes up 42.9% of the BMW Mini One's failures, followed by tyres, visibility/wipers, lamps & electrical, brakes. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.

What it fails on, and why

Tyres42.9% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.

Visibility/wipers28.6% of failures

Visibility failures include torn or smearing wiper blades, a washer jet that does not reach the screen, and chips or cracks in the driver's swept area. Blades and washer fluid are quick, cheap fixes.

Lamps & electrical28.6% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Brakes21.4% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Seat belts7.1% of failures

Seat-belt failures are frays, cuts, corroded anchorages, or a belt that will not lock under a sharp pull or retract properly.

Steering7.1% of failures

Steering faults are typically worn track-rod ends or ball joints, play in the rack, or a split gaiter letting grease out and dirt in. Excessive free play at the wheel fails.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the tyres failure: BMW Mini One tyresSearch Amazon for BMW Mini One tyresaffiliate searchFind BMW Mini One tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: BMW Mini One wiper bladesSearch Amazon for BMW Mini One wiper bladesaffiliate searchFind BMW Mini One wiper blades on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: BMW Mini One headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for BMW Mini One headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind BMW Mini One headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: BMW Mini One brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for BMW Mini One brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind BMW Mini One brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the seat belts failure: BMW Mini One seat beltsSearch Amazon for BMW Mini One seat beltsaffiliate searchFind BMW Mini One seat belts on eBayaffiliate
For the steering failure: BMW Mini One steering track rod endsSearch Amazon for BMW Mini One steering track rod endsaffiliate searchFind BMW Mini One steering track rod ends on eBayaffiliate

Other models

BMW 3 Series MOT failures24.9% failure rateBMW 118 Series MOT failures18.5% failure rateBMW X5 MOT failures22.7% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data ยท DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain