BMW Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems by model

Free BMW vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 81% MOT pass rate (UK 77%)
  • 43,498 BMWs checked
  • 22.6% had outstanding finance

BMW reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full BMW history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full BMW car check:

Of the 389 BMW vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 22.6% had outstanding finance recorded, 14.7% an insurance write-off record and 58.6% a number plate change.

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a BMW by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

BMW car check by model

MOT pass rate of each BMW model, all its versions included; the line marks the UK average (77%). Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

  • BMW 3 Series 14,845 vehicles checked 80% Top failure area: lights and indicators BMW 3 Series car check →
  • BMW 1 Series 9,407 vehicles checked 81% Top failure area: lights and indicators BMW 1 Series car check →
  • BMW 5 Series 6,356 vehicles checked 81% Top failure area: tyres BMW 5 Series car check →
  • BMW X5 2,269 vehicles checked 79% Top failure area: lights and indicators BMW X5 car check →
  • BMW 4 Series 2,245 vehicles checked 86% Top failure area: tyres BMW 4 Series car check →
  • BMW 2 Series 1,863 vehicles checked 86% Top failure area: tyres BMW 2 Series car check →
  • BMW X3 1,338 vehicles checked 81% Top failure area: lights and indicators BMW X3 car check →
  • BMW X1 1,235 vehicles checked 84% Top failure area: tyres BMW X1 car check →
  • BMW 7 Series 561 vehicles checked 84% Top failure area: suspension
  • BMW 6 Series 527 vehicles checked 82% Top failure area: tyres
  • BMW X6 466 vehicles checked 84% Top failure area: tyres
  • BMW Z4 427 vehicles checked 77% Top failure area: lights and indicators
  • BMW M3 306 vehicles checked 84% Top failure area: lights and indicators
  • BMW M4 283 vehicles checked
  • BMW X4 258 vehicles checked
  • BMW X2 163 vehicles checked
  • BMW Z3 116 vehicles checked
  • BMW I3 109 vehicles checked
  • BMW 8 Series 91 vehicles checked
  • BMW M5 89 vehicles checked
  • BMW R 61 vehicles checked
  • BMW S 52 vehicles checked
  • BMW M2 47 vehicles checked
  • BMW K 36 vehicles checked
  • BMW I8 33 vehicles checked
  • BMW IX 28 vehicles checked
  • BMW F 26 vehicles checked
  • BMW X7 26 vehicles checked
  • BMW M6 25 vehicles checked
  • BMW IX3 23 vehicles checked
  • BMW I4 22 vehicles checked

Free BMW MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 43,498 BMW vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 81%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 8,200typical miles a year
  • 4.7%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 482,417MOT tests analysed
  • 2009–2017built (middle half)
  • 61%diesel; 33% petrol; 5% hybrid electric (clean)

BMW common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on BMW vehicles, as a share of all their MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once).

Top 14 BMW MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
  2. Position lamp not working1.4%
  3. Tyre has ply or cords exposed1.3%
  4. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid1.2%
  5. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.2%
  6. Headlamp aim too low1.0%
  7. Parking brake efficiency below requirements1.0%
  8. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.9%
  9. Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak0.9%
  10. Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.9%
Show all 14
  1. Headlamp aim too high0.8%
  2. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively0.7%
  3. Stop lamp not working0.5%
  4. Coil spring fractured or broken0.5%

Top 20 BMW MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge8.5%
  2. Brake pad wearing thin6.6%
  3. Tyre worn close to the legal limit4.7%
  4. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened3.7%
  5. Oil leak, but not excessive2.8%
  6. Brake hose slightly deteriorated1.8%
  7. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.7%
  8. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.6%
  9. Shock absorbers has light misting of oil1.5%
  10. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.3%
Show all 20
  1. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.3%
  2. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing1.3%
  3. Play in steering rack inner joint1.3%
  4. Nail in tyre1.2%
  5. Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material1.2%
  6. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'0.9%
  7. Brake disc worn, but not excessively0.9%
  8. Brake pipe slightly corroded0.8%
  9. Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect0.8%
  10. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A'0.7%

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 43,498 BMW vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp (482,417 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Before buying a used BMW

The MOT record shows condition on the day of the test. Run these checks on the BMW you're looking at too:

BMW MOT questions

How do I check a used BMW for outstanding finance or a write-off?

Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 389 BMW vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 22.6% had outstanding finance recorded and 14.7% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.

Is a BMW car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any BMW are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the BMW?

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm: found at 2.4% of the BMW MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 37% of failed tests.

What is the BMW MOT pass rate?

81% of 482,417 MOT tests on 43,498 BMW vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the BMW?

Going by its MOT records, the BMW's most common failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.4% of tests); position lamp not working (1.4% of tests); tyre has ply or cords exposed (1.3% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the BMW?

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 8.5% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a BMW typically driven?

About 8,200 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 4.7% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

Which BMW model passes its MOT most often?

Among BMW models with at least 300 vehicles checked, the BMW 4 Series has the highest pass rate (86%) and the BMW Z4 the lowest (77%).

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