The picture
2 Series: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 23,268 MOT tests, the 2 Series returns 87.8% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. A tyre with the cords showing and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 38,470, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A tyre seriously damaged
466 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 02
A tyre cords visible or damaged
460 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 03
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
408 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 04
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
327 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 05
A tyre seriously damaged
308 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 06
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
130 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 07
Wiper blade defective
118 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 08
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
94 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 09
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
93 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 10
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
78 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£120–£190
If every one of this 2 Series's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a 2 Series?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 2 Series and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.