BMW X1
From 168,167 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer X1s fare better: 2022 models pass at 94.1% vs 77.5% for 2009.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 3,538 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 | 3,538 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 3,524 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,625 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 1,755 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 1,409 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,306 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 925 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 810 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 760 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 626 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 58.6% of X1 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 8.3% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £108.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 91% while Diesel versions pass at 84.2%, a 7 percentage point gap.
BMW X1 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 10,578 newly registered in the past year with 1,353 leaving, a net gain of 9,225. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 124,102 | 2,140 | +2,840 | -138 | +2,702 |
| 2025 Q2 | 121,475 | 2,065 | +3,173 | -93 | +3,080 |
| 2025 Q1 | 118,394 | 2,066 | +2,574 | -463 | +2,111 |
| 2024 Q4 | 116,416 | 1,933 | +1,991 | -659 | +1,332 |
| 2024 Q3 | 115,368 | 1,649 | +1,678 | -514 | +1,164 |
| 2024 Q2 | 114,312 | 1,541 | +1,671 | -344 | +1,327 |
| 2024 Q1 | 113,181 | 1,345 | +1,447 | -384 | +1,063 |
| 2023 Q4 | 112,229 | 1,234 | +1,347 | -118 | +1,229 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| X1 Xdrive20D M Sport Auto | Diesel | 8,097 | 11% |
| X1 Xdrive20I Xline Auto | Petrol | 7,586 | 10% |
| X1 Xdrive20D Xline Auto | Diesel | 6,649 | 9% |
| X1 Sdrive20I Xline Auto | Petrol | 5,814 | 8% |
| X1 Sdrive 20I M Sport Mhev A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 5,205 | 7% |
| X1 Xdrive25E M Sport Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 4,525 | 6% |
| X1 Xdrive20D Sport Auto | Diesel | 4,518 | 6% |
| X1 Xdrive18D Xline Auto | Diesel | 3,484 | 5% |
| X1 Xdrive20D Se Auto | Diesel | 3,242 | 4% |
| X1 Sdrive18D Se Auto | Diesel | 3,156 | 4% |
| X1 Sdrive18D Se | Diesel | 3,039 | 4% |
| X1 Sdrive20I M Sport Auto | Petrol | 2,576 | 3% |
| X1 Xdrive20I M Sport Auto | Petrol | 2,553 | 3% |
| X1 Xdrive18D Xline | Diesel | 2,361 | 3% |
| X1 Sdrive18D Xline Auto | Diesel | 2,346 | 3% |
| X1 Xdrive18D M Sport | Diesel | 2,155 | 3% |
| X1 Sdrive18I M Sport Auto | Petrol | 2,031 | 3% |
| X1 Sdrive18I Xline | Petrol | 1,996 | 3% |
| X1 Xdrive25E Xline Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,979 | 3% |
| X1 Xdrive18D M Sport Auto | Diesel | 1,919 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 94.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2021 | 91.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2020 | 92% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 91.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
10 earlier years
| 2018 | 89.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2017 | 88.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 88.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2015 | 84% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 80.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 80.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 77.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2011 | 78.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2010 | 77.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2009 | 77.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all X1s tested had between 45,696 and 96,536 miles on the clock.
At 66,725 median miles, the X1 has 0.02 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 X1 MOT pass rate?
The BMW X1 has a 86.5% MOT pass rate based on 168,167 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW X1?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW X1 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 3,538 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many BMW X1s are on UK roads?
There are 124,102 BMW X1s currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,140 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW X1 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW X1 is 66,725 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 45,696 and 96,536 miles.
Buying a used X1?
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.