MOT performance
2004 BMW 3 Series: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 21,440 MOT tests on 2004-registered BMW 3 Seriess in 2023–2024 (on average 18.9 years old at test, median 116,296 miles), 64.1% passed first time, 10.8 points lower than the BMW 3 Series overall. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, 2004 BMW 3 Seriess failed 20% less often than comparable cars.
21,440 MOT tests on 12,076 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 64.1% | ±0.6 pts (95%), n = 21,440 |
| All BMW 3 Seriess | 74.9% | n = 1,007,360 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.80× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 10.6% | n = 21,440 |
| Average age at test | 18.9 years | n = 21,440 |
Where 2004 BMW 3 Seriess fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 15.5% | +7% |
| Suspension | 13.7% | -23% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 12.0% | -47% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.5% | -6% |
| Tyres | 7.3% | +4% |
| Driver's view of the road | 5.9% | -24% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 3.4% | -65% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 3.2% | Same |
| Steering | 1.3% | -72% |
| Road wheels | 0.8% | +64% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.6% | -17% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -2% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements | Brakes | 5.17% |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | Brakes | 3.49% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.22% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 3.01% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.68% |
Check a specific 2004 BMW 3 Series
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
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About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.