MOT performance
2004 BMW X3: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 4,790 MOT tests on 2004-registered BMW X3s in 2023–2024 (on average 18.7 years old at test, median 120,798 miles), 62.4% passed first time, 17.4 points lower than the BMW X3 overall. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, 2004 BMW X3s failed 19% less often than comparable cars.
4,790 MOT tests on 2,685 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 62.4% | ±1.4 pts (95%), n = 4,790 |
| All BMW X3s | 79.8% | n = 204,786 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.81× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 8.6% | n = 4,790 |
| Average age at test | 18.7 years | n = 4,790 |
Where 2004 BMW X3s fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 14.1% | -41% |
| Suspension | 13.9% | -24% |
| Brakes | 10.4% | -30% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.7% | -9% |
| Driver's view of the road | 7.7% | -3% |
| Tyres | 6.1% | -19% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 4.5% | +41% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 4.0% | -59% |
| Steering | 2.6% | -44% |
| Road wheels | 0.7% | +26% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.5% | -29% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | +215% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.12% |
| Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | Suspension | 4.15% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 3.34% |
| SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault | Seat belts and airbags | 3.26% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 3.05% |
Check a specific 2004 BMW X3
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.