BMW M2 years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

2,620 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2017–2018 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Both BMW M2 years have MOT pass rates above the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

Below the average for their first-use yearNone
Above the average for their first-use year2017–2018
Can't be told apart from averageNone

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

88.5%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 87.3% to 89.7%.

BMW M2, all years88.5%
Same-age average, all vehicles79.7%

In 2025, 88.5% of the 2,620 initial MOT tests on BMW M2 cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 79.7%. That is 8.9 points above the same-age average.

Check a specific M2

Its own MOT history, free.

BMW M2 MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Chart	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2018age 7		1,41043,400	87.9%±1.9	+7.0 ptsall: 80.9%
2017age 8		1,21047,000	89.3%±1.9	+11.1 ptsall: 78.2%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common M2 problems at the MOT

Share of the 300 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these can add up to more than 100%.

Suspension38.3%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems.

What to check when viewing an M2

Based on the areas where BMW M2 MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Suspension
In 38.3% of failed M2 tests
- Push down hard on each corner. Check the car rises once and settles, not bouncing again and again.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- Check the car sits level when parked on flat ground.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check an M2's MOT history

BMW M2 questions

Which BMW M2 years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, no model year is clearly below average. Above average: 2017–2018. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the BMW M2 reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 88.5% of initial MOT tests on BMW M2 cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 79.7%. That is 8.9 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common BMW M2 problems at the MOT?

The most common failure area is suspension (in 38.3% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 7-year-old BMW M2?

At their 2025 MOT tests, BMW M2 cars first used in 2018, about 7 years old, had a median of 43,400 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific M2's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any BMW M2

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other BMW models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 23 BMW models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all BMW M2 cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count