Used car guide

2010 BMW 1 Series: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 BMW 1 Seriess, from 1,902 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,902MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
7,300typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 BMW 1 Seriess than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Shock absorbers2.2× usual
    BMW 1 Series
    17.2% All 2010 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 2.1% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Better than most

Coil springs: 2.7% here, against 11.4% of all 2010 cars. Ball joint: 2.6% here, against 6.5% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 BMW 1 Series MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    36% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Suspension
    34% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    30% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    8% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a BMW 1 Series?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201915,113Tyres 26%
201812,251Tyres 26%
20177,436Tyres 24%
20162,757Tyres 22%
20151,530Tyres 22%
20142,004Tyres 24%
201315,070Tyres 32%
201212,795Tyres 32%
20112,309Tyres 33%
20091,635Brakes 38%
20081,142Brakes 43%
2007766Brakes 47%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 BMW 1 Seriess registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score