BMW M440i — MOT pass rate & failures

The BMW M440i recorded a 90.9% MOT pass rate across 4,557 tests in this dataset (model years 2019–2023), with tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility its most common failure areas. Its 9.1% fail rate is lower than the 11.8% average across all BMW 4 Series versions.

Pass rate

4,557

MOT tests analysed

9.1%

Fail rate

worse than

vs coupes & convertibles of similar age

2019–2023

Model years

How it compares

Fail rate for the M440i against the whole 4 Series range, its segment and the national average for cars of a similar age.

By model year

BMW M440i MOT results by model year
Year	Tests	Pass rate	Fail rate
2020	731	89.7%	10.3%
2021	2,247	90.4%	9.6%
2022	1,534	92.0%	8.0%
2023	44	100.0%	0.0%

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — BMW M440i
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	7.7%	350
2	Lighting & signalling	1.1%	50
3	Visibility	0.7%	33
4	Other defects	0.5%	21
5	Suspension	0.3%	12
6	Road wheels	0.2%	11
7	Brakes	0.2%	10
8	Steering	0.1%	5

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category, across all model years.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — BMW M440i
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	55
2	Headlamp aim	53
3	Registration plates	36
4	Washers	19
5	Wipers	15
6	Side repeaters	7

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — BMW M440i
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	12.3%	562
2	Other defects	2.8%	127
3	Visibility	1.8%	82
4	Brakes	1.5%	66
5	Suspension	0.9%	39
6	Emissions & environmental	0.6%	26

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — BMW M440i
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	3,177	8.2%
30-60k	1,283	11.2%
60-90k	93	9.7%

Failure rate by age

How the M440i's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — BMW M440i
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	283	10.3%
2024	1,448	9.5%
2025	2,818	8.8%

What to check before buying a BMW M440i

Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.

Tyres (7.7% 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 (1.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Visibility (0.7% 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 M440i at MOT time?

90.9% of the 4,557 BMW M440i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.1% fail rate, better than the 11.8% average across all 4 Series versions.

What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW M440i?

Tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.1%).

Does the M440i get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.7% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 4,557 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.