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MOT reliability

Bmw 420

68,181 vehicles · 514,781 completed MOT tests analysed
87%
MOT pass rate

Based on 68,181 Bmw 420 vehicles and 514,781 completed MOT tests, the Bmw 420 has an overall 87% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 77,334 miles.

68,181
Vehicles
514,781
MOT tests
8,554
Avg miles / year
1.1
Faults per test
8%
Dangerous-fault share

Bmw 420 problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Bmw 420 MOT tests:

  • Tyres, wheels & suspension48%
  • Brakes22%
  • Other20%
  • Visibility4%
  • Lamps & electrical3%
  • Emissions & nuisance2%
  • Identification & plates1%
  • Steering1%

Bmw 420 pass rate by age

How the Bmw 420's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
14195%
23,22393%
380,84289%
475,04188%
573,53788%
671,18487%
765,59286%
854,78985%
941,96784%
1028,39982%
1115,31581%
124,56880%
1327879%

Fuel types: Diesel (46,812), Petrol (21,367), Electric Diesel (2)

Most common Bmw 420 MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Bmw 420 MOT tests:

  1. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (23,984 times)
  2. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (23,799 times)
  3. Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (18,740 times)
  4. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (18,635 times)
  5. Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) (18,572 times)
  6. Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) (10,534 times)
  7. Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) (8,572 times)
  8. Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) (8,294 times)
  9. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i)) (5,344 times)
  10. Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) (5,189 times)
  11. Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt (4,989 times)
  12. Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) (4,408 times)
  13. Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) (4,179 times)
  14. Nearside Rear Nail in tyre (4,075 times)
  15. Offside Rear Nail in tyre (3,865 times)

Bmw 420 pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2023 5 8 75% 35,131
2022 12 18 89% 25,769
2021 331 1,041 89% 41,131
2020 3,106 12,956 89% 44,993
2019 7,787 40,346 88% 54,460
2018 10,722 66,391 88% 62,456
2017 12,540 90,095 88% 74,775
2016 12,513 100,929 87% 86,273
2015 11,551 104,962 86% 92,152
2014 8,941 90,861 84% 96,670
2013 672 7,178 84% 106,131
1984 1 1 100% 25,885

Bmw 420 reliability FAQ

Across 68,181 Bmw 420 vehicles in our MOT data, 87% pass the MOT (a 13% failure rate), with about 1.1 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Bmw 420 MOT issues are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)); Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)); Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)).

The typical Bmw 420 in our data has covered around 77,334 miles.

Compare the Bmw 420

See how the Bmw 420 stacks up against other Bmw models on MOT reliability:

420 vs 3 series 420 vs 118 420 vs 316 420 vs 520

Check a specific Bmw 420

Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.

See all Bmw models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks