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BMW M2 reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 23,556 MOT tests of cars first registered 2016–2019.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
89.3%pass first time
+4.7 ptsvs typical car
Beats 92%of cars
23,556MOT tests

Verdict

The BMW M2 passes its MOT first time on 89.3% of tests, 4.7 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (84.6%). That puts it ahead of 92% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2017 M2 does best (beats 96% of cars) and the 2019 worst (beats 77%).

Better than average on lights & electrics, visibility, brakes.

Watch these weak spots

Coil springs2.2×as often as a typical car
Number plates4.2×as often as a typical car
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.9×as often as a typical car
Horn5.3×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

75%80%85%90%95%345678991%91%89%88%88%88%90%
BMW M2Typical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2016
Beats 92%
2017
Beats 96%
2018
Beats 86%
2019
Beats 77%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Petrol2016–201923,55689.3%Beats 92%A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 0.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 0.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 2.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 2.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 4.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 0.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 2.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.4 ptsTyres: 4.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+0.3 ptsBrakes: 0.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.1 ptsSuspension: 2.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.2 ptsExhaust: 0.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 0.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.1 ptsSuspension: 2.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 0.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 4.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 2.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 0.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 0.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 2.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.4 ptsTyres: 4.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+0.3 ptsBrakes: 0.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.1 ptsSuspension: 2.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.2 ptsExhaust: 0.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 0.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.1 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Suspension: 2.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres
4.4% vs 4.7%
Suspension
2.5% vs 2.4%
Lights & electrics
2.3% vs 3.7%
Emissions & leaks
0.9% vs 0.9%
Visibility
0.7% vs 3.3%
Brakes
0.5% vs 2.7%
Wheels
0.1% vs 0.2%
Seat belts & airbags
0.1% vs 0.3%
Body & structure
0.1% vs 0.7%
Steering
0.1% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Coil springs 2.2× typical
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst) 2.9× typical
    Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Suspension ball joints
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k96%93%89%89%87%86%85%
BMW M2Typical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking3.3%2.9%1.2×
Coil springs1.9%0.9%2.2×
Tyre tread depth1.1%1.5%0.7×
Headlight aim1.1%1.5%0.7×
Number plates0.8%0.2%4.2×
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)0.7%0.2%2.9×
Suspension ball joints0.5%0.3%1.3×
Windscreen washers0.5%1.2%0.4×
Horn0.4%0.1%5.3×
Headlamp cleaning device0.3%0.0%7.6×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A tyre cords visible or damaged19.6
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened18.6
A tyre seriously damaged14.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements11.1
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements10.8
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements6.8
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn4.8
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen4.5
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2019 BMW M21 engine89.7% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Petrol1,26889.7%Beats 77%B
2018 BMW M21 engine88.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Petrol8,46688.9%Beats 86%A
2017 BMW M21 engine90.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Petrol8,28690.1%Beats 96%A
2016 BMW M21 engine88.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Petrol5,53688.6%Beats 92%A

FAQ

What is the BMW M2 MOT pass rate?

89.3% of MOT tests on the BMW M2 were passed first time, based on 23,556 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2016–2019. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 84.6% of the time.

Is the BMW M2 reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 92% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which BMW M2 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2017 M2 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 96% of cars on UK roads. The 2019 does worst: it beats 77%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the BMW M2?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, coil springs, tyre tread depth. Compared with similar cars, coil springs comes up 2.2× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.