Does the BMW 1 Series fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The BMW 1 Series records 2.10 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 3.13 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.03, 95% interval −1.05 to −1.01). It ranks 441 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a BMW 1 Series by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the BMW 1 Series is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 17,809 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 17,809 | 0.79 |
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 5,755 | 0.26 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 5,428 | 0.24 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 5,077 | 0.23 |
| Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 3,446 | 0.15 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,252,061 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a BMW 1 Series gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
5.5% of BMW 1 Series MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 5,998 miles later (55,742 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 55,742 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
BMW 1 Series 2004 · BMW 1 Series 2005 · BMW 1 Series 2006 · BMW 1 Series 2007 · BMW 1 Series 2008 · BMW 1 Series 2009 · BMW 1 Series 2010 · BMW 1 Series 2011 · BMW 1 Series 2012 · BMW 1 Series 2013 · BMW 1 Series 2014 · BMW 1 Series 2015 · BMW 1 Series 2016 · BMW 1 Series 2017 · BMW 1 Series 2018 · BMW 1 Series 2019 · BMW 1 Series 2020 · BMW 1 Series in Finland · BMW 1 Series in the Netherlands · BMW 1 Series by postcode area · BMW 1 Series body, chassis and structure failures · BMW 1 Series brakes failures · BMW 1 Series vehicle identification failures · BMW 1 Series lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · BMW 1 Series road wheels failures · BMW 1 Series seat belts and airbags failures · BMW 1 Series steering failures · BMW 1 Series suspension failures · BMW 1 Series tyres failures · BMW 1 Series visibility failures