2004 BMW 316 MOT pass rate: 66.5% (1,933 tests)
Is the 2004 316 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 64.3% +0.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 65.8% +1.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 70.9% +5.6 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 316
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 533 | 24.9% |
| 2 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 471 | 22.0% |
| 3 | Suspension | 410 | 19.1% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 255 | 11.9% |
| 5 | Tyres | 175 | 8.2% |
| 6 | Visibility | 101 | 4.7% |
All 316 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2,030 | 70.1% | +5.1 pts | 90,325 |
| 2004 (this page) | 1,933 | 66.5% | +2.2 pts | 87,018 |
| 2013 | 3,775 | 80.4% | +7.1 pts | 88,440 |
| 2014 | 4,523 | 81.5% | +5.6 pts | 90,058 |
| 2015 | 2,116 | 82.2% | +3.4 pts | 96,838 |
| 2017 | 2,246 | 87.1% | +3.1 pts | 78,328 |
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FAQs
Is a 2004 BMW 316 reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 66.5% of their MOT tests (1,933 tests, 2023–2025), +2.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 87,018 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 316?
The median tested example shows 87,018 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.