2004 Bentley Continental MOT pass rate: 88.1% (3,159 tests)
Is the 2004 Continental getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 88.6% +24.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 88.7% +24.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 87.1% +21.8 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2004 Continental
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 211 | 25.8% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 127 | 15.5% |
| 3 | Brakes | 122 | 14.9% |
| 4 | Tyres | 107 | 13.1% |
| 5 | Suspension | 90 | 11.0% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 64 | 7.8% |
All Continental years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 (this page) | 3,159 | 88.1% | +23.7 pts | 68,639 |
| 2005 | 3,411 | 89.6% | +25.0 pts | 65,703 |
| 2006 | 3,259 | 89.4% | +24.9 pts | 60,447 |
| 2007 | 3,943 | 91.5% | +26.3 pts | 54,898 |
| 2008 | 2,621 | 90.7% | +25.5 pts | 54,046 |
| 2010 | 1,594 | 91.0% | +23.6 pts | 45,170 |
| 2011 | 1,638 | 91.7% | +22.5 pts | 43,804 |
| 2012 | 2,185 | 93.2% | +22.0 pts | 42,194 |
| 2013 | 2,126 | 93.6% | +20.2 pts | 39,220 |
| 2014 | 2,207 | 94.7% | +18.9 pts | 34,714 |
| 2015 | 2,286 | 95.4% | +16.7 pts | 30,586 |
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
- Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2004 Bentley Continental reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 88.1% of their MOT tests (3,159 tests, 2023–2025), +23.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 68,639 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 Continental?
The median tested example shows 68,639 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.