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BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure car check

Is the BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure reliable? We analysed 768 real MOT tests across 112 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 768 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
93.4%
Typical Mileage
29,273mi
Annual Mileage
1,438mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
24yrs

The BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure.

BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure Number Plates

Number plates registered to a BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

94.3%
2005
95.4%
2004
89.1%
2003
92.7%
2002

BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 8
Roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 4
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 2
Brake pad(s) (sintered type) less than 1.0mm thick 2
wheel bearings have excessive free play 2
Brake disc(s) excessively worn 2
Headlamp aim too low 2
Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 1
Registration plate incorrect 1

BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 3

BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
456 mi/yr
Typical
1,438 mi/yr
Average
2,577 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,491 mi/yr

BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2005 159 94.3% 16,258 23,768 33,598
2004 131 95.4% 15,134 29,857 39,264
2003 147 89.1% 11,460 22,500 39,804
2002 179 92.7% 23,270 32,008 40,066

BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
29,273 mi
75th Percentile
43,570 mi
95th Percentile
87,858 mi
Max Recorded
182,288 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2004

95.4% MOT pass rate from 131 tests

Year to avoid
2003

89.1% MOT pass rate from 147 tests

The best year to buy a used BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.4% across 131 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 89.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure THIS CAR 93.4% 768 29,273 mi 24 yrs
BMW 3 Series 75.1% 12,840,406 90,743 mi 37 yrs
BMW 118 81.5% 1,923,256 64,042 mi 22 yrs
BMW X5 77% 1,735,343 83,401 mi 25 yrs
Mercedes-benz C 300 Sport Edition De Auto 85.7% 797 55,692 mi — yrs

Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure?

The BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure has an overall MOT pass rate of 93.4% across 768 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (8 recorded failures), roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (4), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (2). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure owner drives around 1,438 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure models stay on UK roads for around 24 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure reliable?
Based on 768 MOT tests, the BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure has a 93.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure do per year?
The typical BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure does around 1,438 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure last?
Most BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure models stay on UK roads for around 24 years based on our analysis of 112 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used BMW R 1150 Gs Adventure is 2004 with a 95.4% pass rate across 131 tests.