BMW 430d — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 430d recorded a 88.2% MOT pass rate across 53,949 tests in this dataset (model years 2013–2023), with tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes its most common failure areas.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 271 | 86.7% | 13.3% |
| 2014 | 6,417 | 86.7% | 13.3% |
| 2015 | 14,766 | 87.2% | 12.8% |
| 2016 | 11,835 | 88.0% | 11.9% |
| 2017 | 8,166 | 89.2% | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 7,666 | 89.8% | 10.2% |
| 2019 | 3,362 | 89.2% | 10.8% |
| 2020 | 570 | 89.8% | 10.2% |
| 2021 | 485 | 88.7% | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 407 | 88.9% | 11.1% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.5% | 4,059 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 1,240 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 929 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.6% | 875 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 770 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 421 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.5% | 259 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 118 |
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 | 1,194 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 710 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 581 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 561 |
| 5 | Washers | 554 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 405 |
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 | 21.2% | 11,451 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.2% | 7,120 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.4% | 4,009 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.2% | 2,786 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,780 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 580 |
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 | 6,417 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 19,531 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 17,189 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 7,805 | 15.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,285 | 15.4% |
| 150k+ | 717 | 15.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,005 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 10,756 | 10.6% |
| 2023 | 10,850 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 11,093 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 11,245 | 13.1% |
What to check before buying a BMW 430d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (7.5% 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 (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.7% 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 430d at MOT time?
88.2% of the 53,949 BMW 430d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate, in line with the 11.8% average across all 4 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 430d?
Tyres, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.3%).
Does the 430d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 15.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 53,949 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.