BMW 430: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 430 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 8.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 13,084 individual BMW 430 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate85.3%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+8.6 points
Tests analysed13,084
Average mileage at test65,285 miles
Average year of manufacture2017
Reliability rank1,220 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 85.3% first-time pass rate means roughly 15 in every 100 BMW 430s 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 430 tested had covered 65,285 miles and was built around 2017.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 430 sits 8.6 points above the national average, ranked 1,220 of 2,005 models. On one bought as 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 430 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 recorded closing bids for damaged BMW 430s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 430

  1. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.6% of tests (10.93x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.6% of tests (2.98x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.7% of tests (2.23x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 5.6% of tests (2x the national rate for this defect)
  5. 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, 0.4% of tests (1.9x the national rate for this defect)
  6. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.1% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this defect)
  7. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.4% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.5% of tests
  9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.1% of tests
  10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.9% of tests

From 13,062 DVSA-tracked BMW 430 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 11.95% of these flagged BMW 430 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 430

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a BMW 430 before it actually fails on it.

  1. Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is excessive, 0.3% of tests (1.33x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 29.6% of tests, also fails
  3. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 9% of tests, also fails
  4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 8.4% of tests
  5. A tyre seriously damaged, 6.1% of tests, also fails
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 4.4% of tests, also fails
  7. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3% of tests, also fails
  8. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.4% of tests
  9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 1.3% of tests
  10. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.9% of tests

From 13,062 DVSA-tracked BMW 430 tests, 2024.

BMW 430 pass rate by model year

From its 2014 to its 2020 model year, the BMW 430's first-time pass rate has risen 4.7 points, from 84% to 88.7%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 430 year:

BMW 430 by fuel type

The BMW 430's two most-tested fuel types split by 2.6 points: diesel passes first time 85% of the time (9,515 tests) against 87.6% for petrol (3,510 tests).

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

Embed this data

Run a site about the BMW 430? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

BMW 430 MOT pass rate badge: 85.3%

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-430"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/bmw-430.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="BMW 430 MOT Pass Rate: 85.3% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

Run a garage or parts site? Embed the BMW 430's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

BMW 430 most common MOT failure: Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (0.6% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-430"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/bmw-430.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="BMW 430 most common MOT failure: Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (0.6% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate