CarVerify

Bsa Shooting Star Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Bsa Shooting Star car check

Is the Bsa Shooting Star reliable? We analysed 686 real MOT tests across 135 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 686 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
93.6%
Typical Mileage
11,862mi
Annual Mileage
158mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
71yrs

The Bsa Shooting Star is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam and horn not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Bsa Shooting Star.

Bsa Shooting Star Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Bsa Shooting Star. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Bsa Shooting Star MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Bsa Shooting Star to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

93.2%
1961
94.2%
1960
96.2%
1959
88.2%
1955

Bsa Shooting Star Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Bsa Shooting Star 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 3
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 3
Horn not working 2
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 2
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 2
wheel bearings have excessive free play 2
Drive chain sprocket worn to excess 1
Exhaust has part of the system missing 1
Floor brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 1
Fuel system component insecure 1

Bsa Shooting Star Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
48 mi/yr
Typical
158 mi/yr
Average
673 mi/yr
Heavy usage
478 mi/yr

Bsa Shooting Star MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Bsa Shooting Star year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1961 88 93.2% 2,192 6,841 12,625
1960 69 94.2% 3,125 9,789 58,700
1959 52 96.2% 872 3,801 17,325
1955 51 88.2% 2,589 6,683 27,720

How Long Does a Bsa Shooting Star Last?

Based on 135 Bsa Shooting Star vehicles on UK roads.

Average
42.9 years
Median
51.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
71 years

Bsa Shooting Star Mileage Distribution

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

Median
11,862 mi
75th Percentile
37,375 mi
95th Percentile
85,180 mi
Max Recorded
92,630 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Bsa Shooting Star

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

Best year
1959

96.2% MOT pass rate from 52 tests

Year to avoid
1955

88.2% MOT pass rate from 51 tests

The best year to buy a used Bsa Shooting Star is 1959, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.2% across 52 tests. The 1955 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Bsa Shooting Star Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Bsa Shooting Star THIS CAR 93.6% 686 11,862 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
Kawasaki Ex 300 Adf 85.4% 971 8,223 mi 14 yrs

Compared to the Bsa A10 (92.2% pass rate) and the Bsa Bantam (89.9% pass rate), the Bsa Shooting Star outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Bsa Shooting Star?

The Bsa Shooting Star has an overall MOT pass rate of 93.6% across 686 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 Shooting Star are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (3 recorded failures), headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam (3), and horn not working (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.

A typical Bsa Shooting Star owner drives around 158 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 Shooting 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.

Bsa Shooting Star — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bsa Shooting Star reliable?
Based on 686 MOT tests, the Bsa Shooting Star has a 93.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Bsa Shooting Star?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam, and horn not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Bsa Shooting Star do per year?
The typical Bsa Shooting Star does around 158 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Bsa Shooting Star last?
Most Bsa Shooting Star models stay on UK roads for around 71 years based on our analysis of 135 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Bsa Shooting Star?
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 Bsa Shooting Star?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Bsa Shooting Star is 1959 with a 96.2% pass rate across 52 tests.