BMW Alpina
From 3,026 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 66 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.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 66 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 40 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 36 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 35 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 31 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 29 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 27 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 24 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 19 |
| windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 17 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 50.6% of Alpina failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 11.1% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £102.
BMW Alpina on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 120 newly registered in the past year with 8 leaving, a net gain of 112. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 862 | 81 | +18 | -0 | +26 |
| 2025 Q2 | 838 | 79 | +14 | -1 | +13 |
| 2025 Q1 | 828 | 76 | +74 | -4 | +70 |
| 2024 Q4 | 758 | 76 | +14 | -3 | +11 |
| 2024 Q3 | 755 | 68 | +16 | -0 | +16 |
| 2024 Q2 | 747 | 60 | +31 | -0 | +31 |
| 2024 Q1 | 716 | 60 | +30 | -0 | +31 |
| 2023 Q4 | 679 | 66 | +19 | -0 | +21 |
6 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpina B3 Biturbo Auto | Petrol | 201 | 33% |
| Alpina B5 Biturbo Auto | Petrol | 108 | 18% |
| Alpina D3 Biturbo Auto | Diesel | 92 | 15% |
| Alpina D3S Auto | Diesel | 77 | 13% |
| Alpina Xd3 Biturbo Auto | Diesel | 70 | 12% |
| Alpina B3 | Petrol | 53 | 9% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 92.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 93.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2018 | 97.5% | a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2016 | 87.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
10 earlier years
| 2015 | 89.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2014 | 92.5% | 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 |
| 2011 | 84.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2010 | 88.2% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, light source and lamp not compatible |
| 2009 | 83.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2008 | 85.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2007 | 82.9% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2006 | 84.2% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, a flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched |
| 2004 | 87.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2002 | 84.6% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Alpinas tested had between 46,204 and 103,293 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 69,999 median miles, the Alpina has 0.017 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
Common questions
What is the BMW Alpina MOT pass rate?
The BMW Alpina has a 88.2% MOT pass rate based on 3,026 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW Alpina?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW Alpina is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 66 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many BMW Alpinas are on UK roads?
There are 862 BMW Alpinas currently licensed on UK roads, with 81 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW Alpina at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW Alpina is 69,999 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 46,204 and 103,293 miles.
Buying a used Alpina?
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.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.