2005 Bentley Continental — MOT failures & pass rate
6,501 MOT tests on the 2005 Bentley Continental are in this dataset, and 89.8% of them passed. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.3% of the time, so this is 12.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (4.5%) and lighting & signalling (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, malfunction indicator lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 179 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.4% in the 0-30k band and 16.2% in the 150k+ band, a 9.8-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 13.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 296 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 202 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 198 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.3% | 147 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 98 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 73 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 179 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 177 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 109 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 94 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 82 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 67 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.8% | 894 |
| 2 | Tyres | 12.7% | 826 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 426 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 284 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.4% | 157 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 157 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 625 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,185 | 8.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,504 | 11.2% |
| 90-120k | 887 | 12.5% |
| 120-150k | 187 | 14.4% |
| 150k+ | 99 | 16.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,413 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 1,374 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 1,311 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 1,237 | 9.5% |
| 2025 | 1,166 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Continental
On a 2005 Continental, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (4.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2005 Bentley Continentals pass their MOT?
89.8% of the 6,501 2005 Bentley Continental MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Bentley Continental?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.1%).
Does the 2005 Continental get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,501 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.