BMW
R1100
2,432 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where R1100s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 8.8 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
86.3%
Pass-after-fix
4.6%
Fail
8.8%
Avg miles
45,167
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
R1100: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,457 MOT tests, the R1100 returns 87.8% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a non-functioning shock absorber. A binding brake and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 43,958, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 26–44
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
26–44
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
34 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 02
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
25 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 03
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
21 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 04
A stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes are released
16 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 05
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
15 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 06
A lamp missing or inoperative
14 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 07
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
13 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 08
Rear registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps
13 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 09
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
12 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 10
Contaminated with oil, grease etc
10 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£148–£290
If every one of this R1100's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
Item 03 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
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Summit ADRG-640 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
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Summit
Summit ADRG-904 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
£10.99
View at My Motor World →
Summit
Summit ADRG-905 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£10.99
View at My Motor World →
Draper Expert
Draper Expert Oil Filter Socket for Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and VW
£18.69
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
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Buying or keeping an R1100?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own an R1100 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.