BMW 420
From 119,602 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 420s fare better: 2021 models pass at 93.4% vs 82.9% for 2013.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and a tyre cords visible or damaged. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 2,964 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 2,964 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,139 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 2,014 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,122 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 883 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 804 |
| a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud | 495 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 480 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 396 |
| windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 325 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 56.6% of 420 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 7.6% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £93.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 93.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2020 | 90.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2019 | 89.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2018 | 89.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
5 earlier years
| 2017 | 88.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 87.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 86% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 83.8% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2013 | 82.9% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all 420s tested had between 29,780 and 62,594 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 39,898 median miles, the 420 has 0.031 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
Common questions
What is the BMW 420 MOT pass rate?
The BMW 420 has a 87.5% MOT pass rate based on 119,602 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 420?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 420 is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 2,964 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 420 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 420 is 39,898 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 29,780 and 62,594 miles.
Buying a used 420?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.