Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
BMW
2,590 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where 420d M Sport Mhev Autos pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 12.6 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
90.1%
Pass-after-fix
0.4%
Fail
8.8%
Avg miles
28,689
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
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Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 2,590 tests
Pass rate drops 8.8 points across the cohorts — recent 420d M Sport Mhev Auto examples are doing worse than the early cars at the same tested age.
Pass
98.5%
Fail
0.8%
PRS
0.0%
Avg mileage at test
33,858 mi
Pass
89.6%
Fail
9.3%
PRS
0.5%
Avg mileage at test
28,415 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 2,590 MOT tests, the 420d M Sport Mhev Auto returns 90.1% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. A seriously damaged tyre and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 28,689, 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.
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A tyre seriously damaged
57 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
45 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
26 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
21 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
15 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
8 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
7 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
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
6 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
6 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
6 occurrences · 0.2% 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 2 failures
£120–£190
If every one of this 420d M Sport Mhev Auto'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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Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 8.8-point gap between bands means the year you buy BMW 420d M Sport Mhev Auto has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
98.5%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 98.5% — a 8.8-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: has a cut in excess of the…, ball joint excessively worn — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band.
Band to be cautious about
89.6%
2021+ registration
On the 2021-on band, the data shows a 89.6% pass rate against a fleet average of 98.5% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: has a bulge, caused by separation or…, has a cut in excess of the…, and tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Average mileage on test for this band is 28,415 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (98.5% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2021+ (89.6% pass). That's a 8.8-point spread across 2,460 older tests and 130 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
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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 420d M Sport Mhev Auto 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.