BMW 420i M Sport Auto: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 420i M Sport Auto passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 12.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 3,317 individual BMW 420i M Sport Auto tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate89.6%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+12.9 points
Tests analysed3,317
Average mileage at test24,153 miles
Average year of manufacture2021
Reliability rank768 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 89.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 10 in every 100 BMW 420i M Sport Autos presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW 420i M Sport Auto tested had covered 24,153 miles and was built around 2021.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a BMW 420i M Sport Auto bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW 420i M Sport Auto rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged BMW 420i M Sport Autos actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 420i M Sport Auto

  1. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.6% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.3% of tests (1.65x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.4% of tests
  4. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 0.9% of tests
  5. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.3% of tests
  6. A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber, 0.1% of tests
  7. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.1% of tests (2.29x the national rate for this defect)
  8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.1% of tests
  9. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.1% of tests
  10. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.1% of tests

From 7,461 DVSA-tracked BMW 420i M Sport Auto tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 15.9% of these flagged BMW 420i M Sport Auto defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW 420i M Sport Auto pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each BMW 420i M Sport Auto year:

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If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 420i M Sport Auto MOT pass rate badge: 89.6%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate