Bsa Gold Star Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Bsa Gold Star car check
Is the Bsa Gold Star reliable? We analysed 1,900 real MOT tests across 539 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Bsa Gold Star? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Bsa Gold Star is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include horn not working, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Bsa Gold Star.
Bsa Gold Star Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Bsa Gold Star. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Bsa Gold Star MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Bsa Gold Star to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Bsa Gold Star Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Bsa Gold Star fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Bsa Gold Star Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Bsa Gold Star models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Bsa Gold Star Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Bsa Gold Star owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Bsa Gold Star MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Bsa Gold Star year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 212 | 93.4% | 1,787 | 3,713 | 6,366 |
| 1983 | 50 | 90.0% | 1,379 | 5,064 | 6,205 |
| 1971 | 51 | 94.1% | 8,339 | 15,372 | 20,009 |
| 1963 | 111 | 95.5% | 4,860 | 9,256 | 18,876 |
| 1962 | 51 | 96.1% | 1,850 | 2,064 | 11,422 |
| 1961 | 73 | 94.5% | 1,456 | 5,012 | 24,381 |
| 1960 | 162 | 95.7% | 2,004 | 6,161 | 29,571 |
| 1959 | 108 | 88.9% | 809 | 3,872 | 19,736 |
| 1958 | 89 | 93.3% | 2,540 | 5,923 | 25,041 |
| 1957 | 54 | 90.7% | 2,518 | 7,205 | 9,039 |
| 1956 | 79 | 89.9% | 1,977 | 12,540 | 18,467 |
| 1955 | 68 | 100.0% | 4,782 | 8,034 | 11,276 |
How Long Does a Bsa Gold Star Last?
Based on 539 Bsa Gold Star vehicles on UK roads.
Bsa Gold Star Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Bsa Gold Star MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Bsa Gold Star
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
100.0% MOT pass rate from 68 tests
88.9% MOT pass rate from 108 tests
The best year to buy a used Bsa Gold Star is 1955, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 100.0% across 68 tests. The 1959 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Bsa Gold Star Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bsa Gold Star THIS CAR | 93.7% | 1,900 | 4,658 mi | 71 yrs |
| Bsa A10 | 92.2% | 10,105 | 12,338 mi | 74 yrs |
| Bsa Bantam | 89.9% | 7,723 | 13,212 mi | 77 yrs |
| Bsa C15 | 90.2% | 6,096 | 14,541 mi | 67 yrs |
| MG 1300 | 80.4% | 1,005 | 50,405 mi | 58 yrs |
Compared to the Bsa A10 (92.2% pass rate) and the Bsa Bantam (89.9% pass rate), the Bsa Gold Star outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Bsa Gold Star 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 Bsa Gold StarShould you buy a used Bsa Gold Star?
The Bsa Gold Star has an overall MOT pass rate of 93.7% across 1,900 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 Bsa Gold Star are horn not working (5 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (4), and tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s (3). 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 Bsa Gold Star with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Bsa Gold Star owner drives around 250 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 Bsa Gold Star models stay on UK roads for around 71 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.