Mini
Paceman
16,173 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Pacemans pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 8.0 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
85.5%
Pass-after-fix
4.0%
Fail
10.1%
Avg miles
64,906
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
The picture
Paceman: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 8,914 MOT tests, the Paceman returns 85.6% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a number-plate lamp out. Windscreen damage and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 58,858, 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 18–30
Around the UK fleet average for insurance cost. 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 →
18–30
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
485 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
300 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 03
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
237 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 04
A tyre cords visible or damaged
168 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 05
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
130 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 06
A tyre seriously damaged
126 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 07
A tyre seriously damaged
91 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 08
Wiper blade defective
74 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 09
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
69 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 10
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
62 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 4 failures
£208–£385
If every one of this Paceman'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
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
Item 02 · 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 03 · 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
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Draper
Draper Air Mini Oiler
£16.49
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My Motor World
My Mini Mike Air Freshener
£5.49
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Hycote
Hycote MINI Chilli Red Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote MINI Cosmic Blue Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
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.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Owner reports · Honest John
What owners actually report.
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
Highlight of the interior is the rear seat. Two individual chairs provide generous levels of head, shoulder and knee room with outstanding comfort and support. Armrests have been integrated into the rear trim. A two-section version of the MINI Centre Rail storage and attachment system - first seen in the Countryman - comes as standard. A full-length variant is available as an option.
Buying or keeping a Paceman?
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 a Paceman 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.