BMW Alpina, Buying guide, MOT record and recalls
In 2025, the BMW Alpina passed 83.7% of 1,564 initial MOT tests, 11.4 points above the 72.3% UK average.
Looking at a specific Alpina? Check its finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history. £15, no account needed.
BMW Alpina at the MOT
83.7% of 1,564 initial tests passed in 2025, ranking the Alpina 145th of 575 models. BMW Alpinas aged 3 to 5 years passed 90.6% of MOT tests in 2025; for examples aged 11 years and over that fell to 82%.
First-time pass rate, 2025
Share of initial tests passed, retests excluded.
Pass rate by age at test
BMW Alpina tests in 2025.
Where Alpinas fail
Share of all failure items recorded on BMW Alpina tests in 2025.
The items testers recorded most often were condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (7.8%), shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3%) and condition has ply or cords exposed (4.9%).
The MOT page lists every common Alpina MOT failure. For one car's own results and advisories, run a free MOT history check.
What to look at on a viewing
The Alpina's most common failure areas, and what a tester checks in each.
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Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Walk round with every light on: headlights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp. Check no warning lights stay on after starting.22.4% of Alpina failure items
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Tyres
Check tread depth across the full width of every tyre (the legal minimum is 1.6mm), and look for cuts, bulges and uneven wear.22% of Alpina failure items
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Suspension
Listen for knocks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for leaking shock absorbers and split rubber gaiters.18.9% of Alpina failure items
Alpina engine sizes
3.0 litre engines made up 42% of BMW Alpina MOT tests in 2025, followed by 2.0 litre at 27%.
Engine size at MOT, 2025
Share of 1,554 initial MOT tests in 2025.
BMW Alpina recalls
3 DVSA safety recalls launched from 2010 to July 2026 name the BMW Alpina. Each covers vehicles built in a set period, so a recall does not mean every Alpina is affected.
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May 2012 R/2012/039
Risk of fire
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- The positive battery cable routed from the vehicle battery to the engine bay consists of one cable in the luggage compartment and one cable in the underbody. Both cable are connected by a screw connection and covered by a plastic cover. In single cases the plastic cover may have been fitted incorrectly during the vehicle production. Over time an incorrectly fitted cover could cause the screw connections to come loose leading to an increased resistance also humidity may affect the connection and cause high resistance and drop in current. This can lead to the vehicle not starting and in extreme cases the connection could over heat leading to the possibility of a fire in the luggage area.
- Remedy
- The clips on the battery will be checked the cover replaced and sealed.
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Apr 2012 R/2012/049
Fire may occur
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- Some engines are fitted with an additional water pump for the turbo charger. In some circumstances a crack may develop which then leads to melting of the plug connections and the housing. Further heat development may then lead to scorch damage. In exceptional cases such overheating can lead to smouldering of the water pump. If smouldering occurs an engine compartment fire and vehicle fire cannot be excluded.
- Remedy
- The water pump will be replaced for a new more robust version.
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Nov 2011 R/2011/147
Short circuit may occur
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- Due to the ingress of moisture it is possible that a short circuit can occur in the additional coolant pump for the exhaust turbocharger. The driver will be informed of the issue by a warning message on the display in the instrument panel. If not addressed it is possible for further heat build up in the pump which may cause the plug connection and housing to melt and in extreme cases a localised fire in the engine compartment or vehicle.
- Remedy
- Recall all affected vehicles for the replacement of the additional coolant pump.
Other BMW models
The most-tested BMW models in 2025, against the Alpina's 83.7% MOT pass rate.
BMW Alpina FAQs
Is the BMW Alpina reliable?
MOT data does not measure reliability. It records whether a car met the roadworthiness standard on the day of its test. What it does show is an 83.7% first-time pass rate for the BMW Alpina across 1,564 tests in 2025, above the 72.3% average for all cars.
Has the BMW Alpina had any recalls?
3 DVSA safety recalls launched from 2010 to July 2026 name the BMW Alpina. The most recent was published in May 2012. A recall applies to vehicles built in a set period, so check a specific car on the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker.
What should I check before buying a used BMW Alpina?
On the car itself, start with the areas it most often fails on: lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, tyres and suspension. Then check the individual car's own records. Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and police stolen markers are not part of the MOT record, so they take a history check.
How do I check a BMW Alpina's history?
Enter the registration of the specific car. A Carpeep car history check reports outstanding finance, write-off category, stolen markers, mileage history, previous keepers, MOT and tax status, import and export markers and scrapped status in one £15 report.
Already found an Alpina?
Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.
Across the 1,389 vehicles of every make Carpeep has checked since November 2025, 19% had outstanding finance recorded and 13% an insurance write-off. More on the BMW history check. To confirm a car's identity, see the BMW VIN check.
- Outstanding finance
- Write-off records
- Stolen markers
- Mileage history
- Previous keepers
MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, retests excluded), which also gives the engine sizes. Recalls are from the DVSA vehicle recalls data, with recalls launched up to July 2026. Government data is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability. History-check findings are anonymous counts from reports bought on Carpeep, each vehicle counted once, and are published only where at least 100 vehicles returned an answer.