BMW 1 Series Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems

Free BMW 1 Series 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
  • 10,133 1 Seriess checked
  • 14.1% had outstanding finance

BMW 1 Series 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 1 Series 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 1 Series car check:

Of the 71 BMW 1 Series vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 14.1% had outstanding finance recorded and 32.4% an insurance write-off record.

  • 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 1 Series 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.

Free BMW 1 Series MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 9,407 BMW 1 Series vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 81%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 8,000typical miles a year
  • 3.2%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 102,876MOT tests analysed
  • 2010–2016built (middle half)
  • 57%diesel; 43% petrol

BMW 1 Series common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on the BMW 1 Series, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the 1 Series's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.

Top 15 BMW 1 Series MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
  2. Position lamp not working1.6%
  3. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.5%
  4. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid1.5%
  5. Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak1.2%
  6. Headlamp aim too low1.1%
  7. Tyre has ply or cords exposed1.0%
  8. Headlamp not working on dipped beam1.0%
  9. Headlamp aim too high0.8%
  10. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.7%
Show all 15
  1. Parking brake efficiency below requirements0.6%
  2. Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect0.6%
  3. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively0.6%
  4. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.6%
  5. Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.5%

Top 20 BMW 1 Series MOT advisories

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

  1. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge10.1%
  2. Brake pad wearing thin8.0%
  3. Tyre worn close to the legal limit4.4%
  4. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.4%
  5. Oil leak, but not excessive2.3%
  6. Brake hose slightly deteriorated2.1%
  7. Shock absorbers has light misting of oil2.0%
  8. Play in steering rack inner joint1.8%
  9. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.7%
  10. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.7%
Show all 20
  1. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing1.6%
  2. Nail in tyre1.3%
  3. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.2%
  4. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources1.2%
  5. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.2%
  6. Brake disc worn, but not excessively1.1%
  7. Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect1.0%
  8. Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened0.8%
  9. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'0.7%
  10. Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material0.7%
  • Lights and indicators: 39% of failed tests
  • Tyres: 34% of failed tests
  • Brakes: 20% of failed tests
  • Suspension: 16% of failed tests
  • Windscreen and wipers: 15% of failed tests
  • Tyres advisory: 26% of tests
  • Brakes advisory: 21% of tests
  • Suspension advisory: 9% of tests

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 9,407 BMW 1 Series vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since March 2023 (102,876 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. 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.

BMW 1 Series versions

Every BMW 1 Series version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "1 Series" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

VersionVehiclesMOT pass rateTop failure area
1 Series 118
  • 1 Series 118: 2,892
 2,892 80% Lights and indicators
1 Series 116
  • 1 Series 116: 2,724
  • and 1 more
 2,725 80% Lights and indicators
1 Series (no version recorded) 2,071 82% Lights and indicators
1 Series 120
  • 1 Series 120: 1,145
 1,145 80% Lights and indicators
1 Series 125
  • 1 Series 125: 150
 150 – –
1 Series M135I
  • 1 Series M135I Xdrive Auto: 142
  • and 1 more
 143 – –
1 Series 123
  • 1 Series 123: 103
 103 – –
1 Series 114
  • 1 Series 114: 80
 80 – –
1 Series 135
  • 1 Series 135: 28
 28 – –
1 Series 130
  • 1 Series 130: 23
 23 – –
1 Series 128TI
  • 1 Series 128TI Auto: 18
 18 – –

Key history checks before buying a used BMW 1 Series

All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.

Outstanding finance

A BMW on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check

Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)

Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check

Police stolen marker

Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check

High risk register

Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the 1 Series. Find out why before you buy.

Mileage anomaly check & MOT history

Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check

Previous keepers & plate changes

How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check

More free and full vehicle checks for a BMW 1 Series

See a sample full report · Prices

Full BMW 1 Series car check from £3.99 a report

Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the BMW 1 Series you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.

Check a 1 Series by reg → See a sample report

BMW 1 Series MOT questions

How do I check a used BMW 1 Series for outstanding finance or a write-off?

Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 71 BMW 1 Series vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 14.1% had outstanding finance recorded and 32.4% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.

Is a BMW 1 Series car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any BMW 1 Series 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 1 Series?

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm: found at 2.9% of the BMW 1 Series MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 39% of failed tests.

What is the BMW 1 Series MOT pass rate?

81% of 102,876 MOT tests on 9,407 BMW 1 Series 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 1 Series?

Going by its MOT records, the BMW 1 Series's most common failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.9% of tests); position lamp not working (1.6% of tests); brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick (1.5% 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 1 Series?

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 10.1% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a BMW 1 Series typically driven?

About 8,000 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 3.2% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

More BMW car checks and guides

Guides for buying a used BMW 1 Series