BMW 440i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 440i recorded a 90.6% MOT pass rate across 25,589 tests in this dataset (model years 2013–2022), with tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility its most common failure areas. Its 9.4% fail rate is lower than the 11.8% average across all BMW 4 Series versions.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4,662 | 89.9% | 10.1% |
| 2017 | 8,177 | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| 2018 | 9,106 | 91.0% | 9.0% |
| 2019 | 2,937 | 89.9% | 10.1% |
| 2020 | 616 | 88.8% | 11.2% |
| 2021 | 86 | 97.7% | 2.3% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.8% | 1,734 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 379 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 193 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.8% | 191 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 155 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 134 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.4% | 96 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 89 |
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 | 320 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 281 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 161 |
| 4 | Washers | 134 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 132 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 109 |
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 | 17.4% | 4,463 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 2,102 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 1,249 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.4% | 605 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 597 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 181 |
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 | 9,354 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 12,120 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,524 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 522 | 14.4% |
| 120-150k | 59 | 13.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,583 | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 5,219 | 8.6% |
| 2023 | 5,335 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 5,285 | 10.4% |
| 2025 | 5,167 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a BMW 440i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (6.8% 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 (1.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 440i at MOT time?
90.6% of the 25,589 BMW 440i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate, better than the 11.8% average across all 4 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 440i?
Tyres, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.5%).
Does the 440i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,589 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.