MOT fail rates by first-use year
2004 BMW 1 Series MOT fail rate and common faults
How BMW 1 Series cars first used in 2004 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 7,471 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 21 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 21 years old, BMW 1 Series cars first used in 2004 failed 38.4% of MOTs (1,117 tests), 3.6 points below the 42.1% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 18 to 21 years old, the fail rate moved from 40.5% to 38.4%.
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the BMW 1 Series at 21 years, is airbag (SRS) warning light on, at 5.5 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 1.4).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 18 years | 40.5% | 2,675 | 43.3% | −2.7 pts |
| 2023 | 19 years | 38.7% | 2,120 | 43.2% | −4.5 pts |
| 2024 | 20 years | 37.9% | 1,559 | 42.8% | −4.9 pts |
| 2025 | 21 years | 38.4% | 1,117 | 42.1% | −3.6 pts |
Most common faults at 21 years
These figures cover all BMW 1 Series MOTs at 21 years: cars first used in 2004, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=1,135). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Airbag (SRS) warning light on | 5.5 | 1.4 |
| Shock absorber leaking | 3.8 | 1.1 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 3.7 | 2.1 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 3.6 | 2.4 |
| Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated | 3.1 | 0.5 |
| Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour Wear | 2.9 | 0.8 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 2.9 | 1.9 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear | 2.6 | 1.5 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear | 2.6 | 3.7 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 2.6 | 4.9 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=1,135). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 22.6 | 14.8 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 19.5 | 14.8 |
| Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated | 17.7 | 2.2 |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | 11.8 | 4.5 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 10.7 | 7.2 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 10.2 | 10.4 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 8.7 | 5.4 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear | 8.5 | 5.3 |
| Shock absorber misting oil | 7.3 | 3.2 |
| Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured Wear | 7.0 | 1.8 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=1,135). A test with two items counts once for each.
Car tax rules for a 2004 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Many petrol cars first registered from 2001 to 2005 already meet Euro 4, but not all of them. For a 2004 petrol car the Euro standard of that car decides.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2004 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the BMW 1 Series
Other BMW models first used in 2004
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 3 Series (2004) | 21 years in 2025 | 32.7% | 8,489 | 42.1% |
| BMW 5 Series (2004) | 21 years in 2025 | 31.5% | 2,339 | 42.1% |
| BMW Z4 (2004) | 21 years in 2025 | 30.1% | 2,917 | 42.1% |
| BMW X5 (2004) | 21 years in 2025 | 36.4% | 2,227 | 42.1% |
| BMW X3 (2004) | 21 years in 2025 | 36.3% | 1,728 | 42.1% |
| BMW 6 Series (2004) | 20 years in 2024 | 27.5% | 1,083 | 42.8% |
More on the BMW 1 Series
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2004 BMW 1 Series cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.