BMW 116 MOT pass rate: 78.5% (100,371 tests, 2025)

The BMW 116 passed 78.5% of its 100,371 MOT tests in 2025 — 1.0 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 11 years old with 88,748 miles on the clock.

78.5%Pass rate (2025)

100,371MOT tests analysed

88,748 miMedian mileage at test

11 yrsMedian age at test

How the 116 compares

BMW 116

78.5%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

BMW average (all models)

83.0%

What fails most on the BMW 116

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the 116:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	10,610	22.3%
2	Tyres	9,586	20.2%
3	Brakes	8,553	18.0%
4	Suspension	8,169	17.2%
5	Visibility	4,551	9.6%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	3,228	6.8%

Pre-MOT checklist for 116 owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

116 pass rate by registration year

Lower age-adjusted outliers to inspect carefully: 2018, 2019, 2020. Strongest age-adjusted years: 2007, 2008. Full ranking and method: BMW 116 years to avoid.

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2005	3,928	71.1%	+6.6 pts	107,441
2006	8,252	71.3%	+6.9 pts	109,541
2007	7,955	73.0%	+7.9 pts	105,938
2008	7,004	73.7%	+8.5 pts	96,349
2009	16,197	73.4%	+7.0 pts	98,738
2010	17,012	73.9%	+6.5 pts	101,923
2011	18,786	75.3%	+6.1 pts	97,443
2012	19,823	74.4%	+3.2 pts	96,008
2013	31,684	78.6%	+5.3 pts	89,645
2014	57,825	80.2%	+4.4 pts	82,664
2015	43,025	81.4%	+2.6 pts	79,313
2016	34,782	82.7%	+1.4 pts	74,547
2017	24,393	84.8%	+0.8 pts	65,148
2018	6,857	85.2%	-1.2 pts	54,456
2019	3,951	86.4%	-2.0 pts	45,406
2020	6,938	88.0%	-2.0 pts	39,984
2021	2,890	89.3%	-1.1 pts	37,642

Check a specific 116 before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other BMW models

3 Series77.7% pass rate · 346,191 tests 11883.0% pass rate · 151,434 tests X185.0% pass rate · 105,826 tests X383.1% pass rate · 88,755 tests 1 Series81.7% pass rate · 77,207 tests X582.4% pass rate · 76,168 tests 5 Series85.7% pass rate · 71,923 tests 52081.0% pass rate · 71,728 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 116?

In 2025, 78.5% of 100,371 first MOT tests on the BMW 116 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the 116 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (22.3% of its recorded defects), followed by tyres.

Is the BMW 116 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 78.5% it performs above the national average at a median age of 11 years and 88,748 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.