2004 · 20 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2004 BMW 1 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

1,472 MOT tests in 2024. 61.9% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

110Well above average
Passed first time61.9%
Failed or needed repairs38.1%
Typical mileage at test123,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,472 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault5.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.9%
    103 marked dangerous
  3. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated3.7%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.6%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.1%
    63 marked dangerous
  6. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak3.1%
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.9%
  8. Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour2.4%
  9. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.2%
  10. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid2.0%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes22.5%
  2. Lights & electrics21.8%
  3. Suspension16.3%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)9.1%
  5. Tyres8.2%
  6. Seat belts & airbags7.3%
  7. Emissions & leaks7.0%
  8. Steering2.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm22.9%
  2. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated19.3%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine18.4%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened10.6%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All 1 Series years2005 1 Series →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 BMW 1 Series?

In 2024, 61.9% of 2004 BMW 1 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,472 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 BMW 1 Series?

The most common failure reasons were srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2004 BMW 1 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 110, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).