BMW 116
From 190,804 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 116s fare better: 2021 models pass at 90.7% vs 69% for 2004.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged and windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. The top issue, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, caused 5,608 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 5,608 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 3,209 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 3,120 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 2,952 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 2,892 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 2,742 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 2,561 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 1,960 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 1,674 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 1,595 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 43.8% of failures are serious: 34.1% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 9.7% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £88.
The warranty question
A new 116 passes its MOT 91.6% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 82%, a 9.6 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 79.1%. With an average repair bill of £88 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a 116 that's past its third birthday.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 91.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 86.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2018 | 84.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
14 earlier years
| 2017 | 84.8% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2016 | 82% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 81.2% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2014 | 78.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2013 | 79.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2012 | 76% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2011 | 74.9% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2010 | 73.6% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2009 | 73.5% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2008 | 73.2% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2007 | 69.5% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched |
| 2006 | 69.8% | a flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2005 | 68% | a flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2004 | 69% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched |
Typical mileage
Half of all 116s tested had between 85,084 and 125,239 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 103,932 median miles, the 116 has 0.02 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
| BMW X1 | 86.5% |
Common questions
What is the BMW 116 MOT pass rate?
The BMW 116 has a 78.9% MOT pass rate based on 190,804 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 116?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 116 is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which caused 5,608 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 116 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 116 is 103,932 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 85,084 and 125,239 miles.
Buying a used 116?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 78.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £88 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.