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2004 BMW 316ti Se Compact MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for 316ti Se Compact models manufactured in 2004, based on 196 real MOT test results.

66.3%
Pass Rate
33.7%
Fail Rate
196
Total Tests
71,837
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

2004 BMW 316ti Se Compact MOT Analysis

The 2004 BMW 316ti Se Compact has an MOT pass rate of 66.3% based on 196 tests — slightly above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 71,837 miles on the odometer. With a 33.7% failure rate, the 2004 316ti Se Compact is rated as "Good" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 2004 BMW 316ti Se Compact is Brakes, responsible for 10.7% of failures. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs range from £150–400. Suspension is the second most common issue at 4.6%. Tyres follows at 3.1%.

Top failures specific to 2004 models only. The overall 316ti Se Compact page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

Brakes 10.7%
Suspension 4.6%
Tyres 3.1%

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Brakes10.7%21
2Suspension4.6%9
3Tyres3.1%6
4Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment3.1%6
5Non-component Advisories1.5%3
6Driver's View Of The Road1.0%2
7Road Wheels1.0%2
8Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions1.0%2
9Registration Plates And Vin0.5%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 71,837 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Brakes1.49% per 10K miSuspension0.64% per 10K miTyres0.43% per 10K miLamps & Electrical0.43% per 10K miNon-component advisories0.21% per 10K miVisibility0.14% per 10K miWheels0.14% per 10K miEmissions & Exhaust0.14% per 10K miRegistration Plates and VIN0.07% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Brakes1.4910.7%21
Suspension0.644.6%9
Tyres0.433.1%6
Lamps & Electrical0.433.1%6
Non-component advisories0.211.5%3
Visibility0.141.0%2
Wheels0.141.0%2
Emissions & Exhaust0.141.0%2
Registration Plates and VIN0.070.5%1

Mileage Statistics

71,837
Mean
75,673
Median
65,444
25th Percentile
114,886
75th Percentile
4.69% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 2004 BMW 316ti Se Compact has an MOT pass rate of 66.3% based on 196 tests — slightly above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 71,837 miles on the odometer. With a 33.7% failure rate, the 2004 316ti Se Compact is rated as "Good" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 2004 BMW 316ti Se Compact, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to brakes: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm). At 71,837 average miles, these vehicles are in the mid-range where component wear starts to become a factor.

Brakes — 10.7% of failures

Brakes issues account for 10.7% of MOT failures on 2004 BMW 316ti Se Compact models. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).

Suspension — 4.6% of failures

Suspension issues account for 4.6% of MOT failures on 2004 BMW 316ti Se Compact models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.

Tyres — 3.1% of failures

Tyres issues account for 3.1% of MOT failures on 2004 BMW 316ti Se Compact models. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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