BMW 223I MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

BMW 223I MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The BMW 223I passed on its first attempt in 94.0%, and its overall record sits +13.4 percentage points above the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the BMW 223I in the 2023–2025 data: 285 tests across 1 model years (2022–2022). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common BMW 223I MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the BMW 223I, the Tyres section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the BMW 223I's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded BMW 223I DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the BMW 223I, each with how many of the model's 285 tests it was noted on.

• "Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords" (Major) — noted on about 8 BMW 223I tests, 2.8% of the model's MOT record.
• "Has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure" (Major) — noted on about 2 BMW 223I tests, 0.7% of the model's MOT record.
• "Washers provides insufficient washer liquid" (Major) — noted on about 2 BMW 223I tests, 0.7% of the model's MOT record.
• "Has ply or cords exposed" (Major) — noted on about 1 BMW 223I tests, 0.3% of the model's MOT record.
• "Headlamp aim too high" (Rectified) — noted on about 1 BMW 223I tests, 0.3% of the model's MOT record.
• "Headlamp aim too low" (Rectified) — noted on about 1 BMW 223I tests, 0.3% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst BMW 223I Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest BMW 223I model year on record is 2022 (94.4% across 285 tests), and the weakest is 2022 (94.4%). Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for BMW 223I Owners

These checks follow this BMW 223I's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a BMW 223I.

• the wipers and washers — “washers provides insufficient washer liquid”

  Run the wipers with the screen wet: they should clear it in one sweep without smearing or juddering. Top the washer bottle up and check both jets hit the screen.

• the lights — “headlamp aim too high”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

• the number plates — “registration plates does not conform to the specified requirements”

  Check both plates are present, legible and correctly spaced, with the postcode of the supplier and the BS AU 145e mark. A private plate in the wrong style is a fail before the car is even looked at.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the BMW 223I. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: BMW 223I MOT & Reliability