BMW Unclassified
From 2,339 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and a tyre seriously damaged. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 56 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 suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 56 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 39 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 32 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 32 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 30 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 25 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 24 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 21 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 21 |
| lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 18 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 46% of failures are serious: 37.9% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 8.1% 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 £90.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 88.7% while Diesel versions pass at 79.7%, a 9 percentage point gap.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 85.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2013 | 91.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 83% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2011 | 83.7% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
5 earlier years
| 2010 | 81% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 77.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2008 | 83.1% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2007 | 79.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2006 | 81.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all Unclassifieds tested had between 52,813 and 120,316 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 90,132 median miles, the Unclassified 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 Unclassified MOT pass rate?
The BMW Unclassified has a 84.9% MOT pass rate based on 2,339 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW Unclassified?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW Unclassified is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 56 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW Unclassified at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW Unclassified is 90,132 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 52,813 and 120,316 miles.
Buying a used Unclassified?
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 84.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £90 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.