Skip to content

MOT reliability

Bmw R series

25,445 vehicles · 262,912 completed MOT tests analysed
91%
MOT pass rate

Based on 25,445 Bmw R series vehicles and 262,912 completed MOT tests, the Bmw R series has an overall 91% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 41,731 miles.

25,445
Vehicles
262,912
MOT tests
2,448
Avg miles / year
0.4
Faults per test
2%
Dangerous-fault share

Bmw R series problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Bmw R series MOT tests:

  • Other69%
  • Brakes21%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension15%
  • Lamps & electrical6%
  • Steering3%
  • Seatbelts & equipment1%
  • Body & structure1%
  • Emissions & nuisance1%

Bmw R series pass rate by age

How the Bmw R series's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
113991%
254192%
316,43993%
416,92293%
517,13593%
616,99892%
716,36492%
815,96792%
915,78792%
1015,02992%
1114,47291%
1213,91992%
1312,83391%
1411,31690%
159,97890%
169,04591%
178,03290%
187,13090%
196,32990%
205,39090%

Fuel types: Petrol (25,437), Diesel (7), Electric (1)

Most common Bmw R series MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Bmw R series MOT tests:

  1. Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii)) (5,560 times)
  2. Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii)) (5,513 times)
  3. Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (5.2.3 (e)) (3,393 times)
  4. Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (3.3.A1d) (3,156 times)
  5. Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (3.2.A1f(i)) (2,825 times)
  6. Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (5.2.3 (e)) (2,669 times)
  7. Rear Brake disc(s) slightly worn (3.2.A1l) (2,336 times)
  8. Rear wheel bearings have slight free play (2.4.A.2c) (2,332 times)
  9. Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (3.3.A1d) (2,260 times)
  10. Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e)) (2,252 times)
  11. Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (1.1.13 (a)) (2,201 times)
  12. Headlamp aim too low (1.6) (1,864 times)
  13. Rear Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e)) (1,706 times)
  14. Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (3.2.A1f(i)) (1,280 times)
  15. Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i)) (1,139 times)

Bmw R series pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2021 2 5 100% 7,830
2020 2 3 67% 15,486
2019 6 34 88% 30,663
2018 33 243 100% 23,484
2017 59 370 92% 29,621
2016 537 3,366 96% 23,484
2015 33 168 93% 26,979
2014 90 616 94% 27,090
2013 2,155 17,161 94% 29,438
2012 1,493 12,716 94% 30,787
2011 1,301 11,445 94% 31,782
2010 1,358 12,192 93% 34,597
2009 1,069 10,583 93% 36,903
2008 1,417 13,771 93% 36,655
2007 1,401 15,544 92% 39,877
2006 1,569 18,022 92% 39,239
2005 1,786 22,230 91% 44,615
2004 1,117 12,939 92% 40,366
2003 1,292 16,707 91% 47,580
2002 1,411 18,081 90% 50,677
2001 1,037 13,190 89% 50,893
2000 900 10,589 89% 49,362
1999 640 7,686 89% 51,100
1998 749 8,674 89% 46,535
1997 603 6,889 87% 51,443
1996 399 4,229 87% 58,365
1995 359 3,919 88% 62,089
1994 378 4,004 87% 55,938
1993 239 2,587 87% 56,841
1992 82 907 90% 49,559
1991 62 551 90% 51,488
1990 42 331 89% 53,529
1989 48 364 88% 56,575
1988 48 324 85% 47,543
1987 31 212 90% 72,327
1986 31 198 86% 57,476
1985 55 371 87% 43,844
1984 82 590 91% 53,953
1983 112 782 89% 49,103
1982 132 1,054 88% 49,313
1981 171 1,394 87% 53,793
1980 211 1,502 87% 53,966
1979 260 1,837 88% 52,792
1978 326 2,352 88% 54,277
1977 165 1,169 89% 45,162
1976 60 401 88% 57,362
1975 29 183 87% 45,789
1974 17 101 90% 49,653
1973 20 157 96% 46,112
1972 12 92 92% 43,247
1971 8 53 87% 43,529
1970 2 21 90% 53,494
1965 1 1 100% 6,708
1961 1 1 100% 48,263
1943 1 1 100% 168

Bmw R series reliability FAQ

Across 25,445 Bmw R series vehicles in our MOT data, 91% pass the MOT (a 9% failure rate), with about 0.4 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Bmw R series MOT issues are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii)); Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii)); Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (5.2.3 (e)).

The typical Bmw R series in our data has covered around 41,731 miles.

Compare the Bmw R series

See how the Bmw R series stacks up against other Bmw models on MOT reliability:

R series vs 3 series R series vs 118 R series vs 316 R series vs 520

Check a specific Bmw R series

Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.

See all Bmw models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks