Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 BMW Alpina?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2002 BMW Alpina?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2002 BMW Alpina?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2002 BMW Alpina vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

31% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2002 BMW Alpina reliable?

Based on MOT data from 119 vehicles, the 2002 BMW Alpina has a first-time MOT pass rate of 79.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 BMW Alpina?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 BMW Alpina are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (66.4% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (62.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (36.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2002 BMW Alpina?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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BMW Alpina (2002)

119 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.7% first-time pass rate

2002 BMW Alpina

CarHunch analysed 119 real MOT records for the 2002 BMW Alpina. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2002 BMW ALPINA sits essentially at the UK average with a 79.7% first-time pass rate, but the headline concern here is that nearly one-in-three of these cars (31.1%) has at some point recorded a dangerous defect during MOT testing — well above the typical threshold and a genuine red flag for prospective buyers. This suggests you're looking at an older high-performance machine where mechanical integrity issues are more common than average.

With a median mileage of just over 82,000 miles for a 22-year-old car, these Alpinas have been relatively well-preserved, yet they're still averaging 3.68 failures and 18.7 advisories per test, pointing to recurring wear issues typical of performance variants with complex systems. Before committing to purchase, get a pre-buy inspection from a BMW specialist who understands Alpina-specific components, particularly suspension and brake systems where the dangerous defects are likely concentrated.

We have limited data for the 2002 BMW Alpina — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

79.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

31.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.68

Over 17 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

82k

Middle half: 63k–100k

For context

These stats describe 119 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 119 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 66.4%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 33.6%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · …

Brake wear 23.5%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 20.5%

Offside Rear coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear coil spring corroded

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 119 BMW Alpina cars.

Before you buy a 2002 BMW Alpina

Based on MOT data from 119 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 31.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (98%)	117	80%	3.73

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 BMW Alpina vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

82,344

typical

63,415

low mileage

100,489

high mileage

Half of all 2002 BMW Alpina vehicles fall between 63,415 and 100,489 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 63,415 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 63,415–100,489 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 BMW Alpinas sit.

⚠ Over 135,660 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 BMW Alpina — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 68% of 2002 BMW Alpinas are still active.

57 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 68% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.68

Avg failures per vehicle

18.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW Alpina: All Alpina years → Which year to buy? →

2000 2004 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Or browse all models: BMW →

Compare with another model

See how the 2002 BMW Alpina stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing