BMW R Series reliability, MOT pass rate and rarity

Time Period & Model

Time period snapshot: Last 5 years

Manufacturer: BMW

Model: R Series

Model reliability rank

MOT-based rank from 56,721 selected-period tests.

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Overall MOT pass rate

92.3%

Share of this model's 56,721 selected-period MOT tests that pass.

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Efficiency, emissions & tax

Average MPG

CO2 emission

Euro emissions

Tax cost

£230/yr

Vehicle list price over £40,000?NoYes

Average vehicle miles

41,781

Lower average mileage in the analysed fleet.

Life expectancy miles

41,878

Lower mature-fleet mileage expectation.

Average vehicle age

18.8

Older average age in the represented fleet.

Vehicles represented

8,990

8,990 valid MOT, 0 under 3 years.

Tests analysed

56,721

56,721 MOT tests in the selected period.

Rarity ranking

Based on Make & Model

Rare

8,990On the road

Insight summary

BMW R Series is a rare model in this snapshot, with 8,990 represented vehicles and 0.02% of the active UK pool tracked by AutoRank. For the last 5 years, it has a pass rate of 92.3% from 56,721 MOT tests, with a reliability score of 85. The current pool shows an average of 41,781 miles and an average age of 18.8 years, while mature-fleet mileage is estimated at 41,878 miles. Petrol leads the fuel split, and the most frequent defect themes are lighting, brake pads and tyre condition. The practical read is that the BMW R Series looks convincing in this view, especially where normal wear items have been kept on top of.

Fuel type breakdown (by model)

Fuel	Vehicles
PETROL	8,990

Euro NCAP Safety

No NCAP tests found for this model.

Top 25 most common defects (by model)

Defect	Count
Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))	369
Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick (1.1.13 (a))	266
Front Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (5.2.3 (e))	234
Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))	196
Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (5.2.3 (e))	173
Front Brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))	170
Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))	140
Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))	124
Front Brake indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))	123
Horn not working (7.7 (a))	115
Rear Brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))	114
Rear Brake indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))	90
Stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))	87
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))	78
Rear Stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))	76
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))	74
Rear reflector missing (4.8.2 (a) (ii))	72
Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))	66
Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))	63
Headlamp aim projected beam image obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))	63
Stop lamp does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls (4.3.2 (a) (iii))	62
All direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (4.4.4 (a))	61
Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick (1.1.13 (a))	60
Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (5.3.2 (b))	57
Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))	56

All 25 defects ranked by recorded countShowing 2,989 defects across this top 25 set

Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

369

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick (1.1.13 (a))

266

Front Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (5.2.3 (e))

234

Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

196

Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (5.2.3 (e))

173

Front Brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

170

Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

140

Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

124

Front Brake indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))

123

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

115

Rear Brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

114

Rear Brake indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))

Stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Rear Stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Rear reflector missing (4.8.2 (a) (ii))

Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Headlamp aim projected beam image obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Stop lamp does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls (4.3.2 (a) (iii))

All direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (4.4.4 (a))

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick (1.1.13 (a))

Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

BMW R Series reliability and MOT data