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2004 BMW 318ti Sport Compact MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for 318ti Sport Compact models manufactured in 2004, based on 59 real MOT test results.

55.9%
Pass Rate
44.1%
Fail Rate
59
Total Tests
83,891
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

2004 BMW 318ti Sport Compact MOT Analysis

The 2004 BMW 318ti Sport Compact has an MOT pass rate of 55.9% based on 59 tests — slightly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 83,891 miles on the odometer. With a 44.1% failure rate, the 2004 318ti Sport Compact is rated as "Below Average" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 2004 BMW 318ti Sport Compact is Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions, responsible for 3.4% of failures. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs range from £100–1,000+. Suspension is the second most common issue at 3.4%. Driver's View of the Road follows at 1.7%.

⚠ Based on limited data (59 tests)

Top failures specific to 2004 models only. The overall 318ti Sport Compact page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

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
1Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions3.4%2
2Suspension3.4%2
3Driver's View Of The Road1.7%1
4Non-component Advisories1.7%1
5Tyres1.7%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 83,891 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.

Emissions & Exhaust0.40% per 10K miSuspension0.40% per 10K miVisibility0.20% per 10K miNon-component advisories0.20% per 10K miTyres0.20% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Emissions & Exhaust0.403.4%2
Suspension0.403.4%2
Visibility0.201.7%1
Non-component advisories0.201.7%1
Tyres0.201.7%1

Mileage Statistics

83,891
Mean
70,156
Median
55,213
25th Percentile
97,506
75th Percentile
5.26% failures per 10K miles

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

About This Data

The 2004 BMW 318ti Sport Compact has an MOT pass rate of 55.9% based on 59 tests — slightly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 83,891 miles on the odometer. With a 44.1% failure rate, the 2004 318ti Sport Compact is rated as "Below Average" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 2004 BMW 318ti Sport Compact, budget for potential repairs before each MOT. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to exhaust, fuel and emissions: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help. With an average mileage of 83,891 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 3.4% of failures

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions issues account for 3.4% of MOT failures on 2004 BMW 318ti Sport Compact models. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.

Suspension — 3.4% of failures

Suspension issues account for 3.4% of MOT failures on 2004 BMW 318ti Sport 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.

Driver's View of the Road — 1.7% of failures

Driver's View of the Road issues account for 1.7% of MOT failures on 2004 BMW 318ti Sport Compact models. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.

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

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