BMW 428i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 428i recorded a 87.8% MOT pass rate across 16,110 tests in this dataset (model years 2013–2020), with tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes its most common failure areas.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 770 | 87.1% | 12.9% |
| 2014 | 8,011 | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| 2015 | 6,102 | 87.9% | 12.1% |
| 2016 | 1,217 | 89.5% | 10.5% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.2% | 1,164 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 457 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.9% | 301 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 283 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 267 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 112 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 104 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.4% | 65 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 342 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 236 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 230 |
| 4 | Washers | 221 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 188 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 101 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.0% | 3,547 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.3% | 2,462 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.1% | 1,460 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.3% | 852 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 447 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 291 |
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 | 1,804 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 7,297 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 5,060 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,517 | 17.1% |
| 120-150k | 341 | 17.9% |
| 150k+ | 89 | 14.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,230 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 3,234 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 3,200 | 11.9% |
| 2024 | 3,229 | 13.6% |
| 2025 | 3,217 | 13.5% |
What to check before buying a BMW 428i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (7.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.9% 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 reliable is the BMW 428i at MOT time?
87.8% of the 16,110 BMW 428i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate, in line with the 11.8% average across all 4 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 428i?
Tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.8%).
Does the 428i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 14.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,110 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-06. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.