Used car guide

2013 MINI Paceman diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel MINI Paceman first registered in 2013 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 1,142 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,142MOTs of 2013 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
77%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 67%)
7,400typical miles a year
4.9×the usual rate for seat belts

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2013 MINI Paceman diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2013 MINI Paceman diesel than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Seat belts4.9× usual
    MINI Paceman
    4.4% All 2013 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.3% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock and retract smoothly.

Common 2013 MINI Paceman diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2013 MINI Paceman diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    20% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    20% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    14% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    6% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2013 MINI Paceman diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the seat belts? (Flagged at MOT 4.9× as often on the 2013 MINI Paceman diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a MINI Paceman?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the MINI Paceman compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2017400Tyres 30%
20163,996Tyres 30%
20156,147Tyres 29%
201411,021Tyres 30%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of MINI Paceman cars first registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score