2017 Bmw 2 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 100,969 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Bmw 2 Series, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 89.6% was above the average for cars of a similar age (87.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 15.8% in the 150k+ group versus 6.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 5,858 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 3,549 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.8% | 1,844 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 1,562 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 1,360 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 571 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,427 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,186 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,651 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,136 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 780 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 588 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 21.9% | 22,166 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 12,410 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 6,072 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 4,148 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 2,481 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 1,390 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 25,501 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 49,705 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 19,455 | 13.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,769 | 16.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,117 | 16.0% |
| 150k+ | 412 | 15.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 48,312 | 9.8% |
| Diesel | 47,540 | 11.1% |
| Hybrid | 5,117 | 9.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,992 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 20,049 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 20,247 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 20,318 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 20,363 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 2 Series
Before buying a 2017 Bmw 2 Series, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 Bmw 2 Seriess pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 100,969 2017 Bmw 2 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Bmw 2 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.5%).
Does the 2017 2 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 15.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 100,969 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.