BMW
1,889 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where 340is pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 14.5 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
92.0%
Pass-after-fix
0.7%
Fail
6.9%
Avg miles
48,299
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 1,839 tests
Pass rate is broadly flat across the cohorts — new and old 340i examples track each other at the test bay.
Pass
91.9%
Fail
6.9%
PRS
0.9%
Avg mileage at test
52,741 mi
Pass
92.0%
Fail
7.4%
PRS
0.2%
Avg mileage at test
37,833 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 989 MOT tests, the 340i returns 91.8% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. A torn steering gaiter and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 42,445, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
26–44
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Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
30 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
28 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
26 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
23 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
16 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
15 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
8 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Wiper blade defective
8 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
8 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
7 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£200–£430
If every one of this 340i's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. Pass rates barely move across bands here, so the year you buy BMW 340i makes little measurable difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
92.0%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 92.0% — a 0.1-point improvement. Tests in this band average 37,833 miles — roughly 15K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, has a cut in excess of the… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.
Band to be cautious about
91.9%
Pre-2018 registration
On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 91.9% pass rate against a fleet average of 92.0% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has ply or cords exposed, and ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt. Average mileage on test for this band is 52,741 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (92.0% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (91.9% pass). That's a 0.1-point spread across 1,379 older tests and 460 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
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Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 340i and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
