2004 BMW Alpina — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 BMW Alpina passed 86.5% of its 421 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 14.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.3%) and suspension (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, washers and ball joint — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 11 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.9% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 20.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.2% in 2021 to 7.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.3% | 18 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.0% | 17 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.0% | 17 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 12 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 10 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 11 |
| 2 | Washers | 7 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 6 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 5 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 5 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 5 |
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 | 20.2% | 85 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.9% | 71 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.7% | 66 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.8% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 18 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 16 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 87 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 143 | 5.6% |
| 90-120k | 113 | 15.9% |
| 120-150k | 52 | 26.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 93 | 17.2% |
| 2022 | 85 | 10.6% |
| 2023 | 81 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 83 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 79 | 7.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Alpina
On a 2004 Alpina, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (4.3% 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.
- Suspension (4.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (4.0% 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.
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 2004 BMW Alpinas pass their MOT?
86.5% of the 421 2004 BMW Alpina MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 BMW Alpina?
Brakes, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by suspension (4.0%).
Does the 2004 Alpina get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.8% in the 30-60k band to 26.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 421 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.