CarVerify

BMW R 1250 R SE Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free BMW R 1250 R SE car check

Is the BMW R 1250 R SE reliable? We analysed 559 real MOT tests across 312 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific BMW R 1250 R SE? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 559 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
95.0%
Typical Mileage
7,413mi
Annual Mileage
1,709mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The BMW R 1250 R SE is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW R 1250 R SE.

BMW R 1250 R SE Number Plates

Number plates registered to a BMW R 1250 R SE. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

BMW R 1250 R SE MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a BMW R 1250 R SE to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

98.5%
2023
90.6%
2022
95.6%
2021
98.2%
2020

BMW R 1250 R SE Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on BMW R 1250 R SE models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 4
Steering damper in such a condition that the steering action is adversely affected 1

BMW R 1250 R SE Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical BMW R 1250 R SE owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
775 mi/yr
Typical
1,709 mi/yr
Average
2,272 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,054 mi/yr

BMW R 1250 R SE MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW R 1250 R SE year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 67 98.5% 4,446 5,683 8,214
2022 138 90.6% 4,349 7,021 10,942
2021 274 95.6% 4,573 8,056 11,533
2020 56 98.2% 5,716 9,214 12,691

How Long Does a BMW R 1250 R SE Last?

Based on 312 BMW R 1250 R SE vehicles on UK roads.

Average
3.1 years
Median
3.0 years

BMW R 1250 R SE Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all BMW R 1250 R SE MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
7,413 mi
75th Percentile
11,132 mi
95th Percentile
20,880 mi
Max Recorded
53,941 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used BMW R 1250 R SE

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

Best year
2023

98.5% MOT pass rate from 67 tests

Year to avoid
2022

90.6% MOT pass rate from 138 tests

The best year to buy a used BMW R 1250 R SE is 2023, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 98.5% across 67 tests. The 2022 model year has the lowest pass rate at 90.6% — 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 1250 R SE Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
BMW R 1250 R SE THIS CAR 95.0% 559 7,413 mi — 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
Citroen C5 Aircross Shine Bluehdi Ss A 91.1% 539 29,070 mi — yrs

Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW R 1250 R SE outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a BMW R 1250 R SE you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific BMW R 1250 R SE

Should you buy a used BMW R 1250 R SE?

The BMW R 1250 R SE has an overall MOT pass rate of 95.0% across 559 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

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 1250 R SE 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 1250 R SE owner drives around 1,709 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.

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 1250 R SE — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the BMW R 1250 R SE reliable?
Based on 559 MOT tests, the BMW R 1250 R SE has a 95.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a BMW R 1250 R SE?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a BMW R 1250 R SE do per year?
The typical BMW R 1250 R SE does around 1,709 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a BMW R 1250 R SE last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a BMW R 1250 R SE?
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 1250 R SE?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used BMW R 1250 R SE is 2023 with a 98.5% pass rate across 67 tests.