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BMW 420I M Sport Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free BMW 420I M Sport Auto car check

Is the BMW 420I M Sport Auto reliable? We analysed 15,587 real MOT tests across 7,627 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 15,587 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.9%
Typical Mileage
26,042mi
Annual Mileage
6,639mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The BMW 420I M Sport Auto is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 420I M Sport Auto.

BMW 420I M Sport Auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a BMW 420I M Sport Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

BMW 420I M Sport Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a BMW 420I M Sport Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.5%
2023
89.5%
2022
89.7%
2021
91.1%
2020

BMW 420I M Sport Auto Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 420I M Sport Auto models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 216
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 77
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 69
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 45

BMW 420I M Sport Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical BMW 420I M Sport Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,178 mi/yr
Typical
6,639 mi/yr
Average
8,020 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,959 mi/yr

BMW 420I M Sport Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 420I M Sport Auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 1,183 90.5% 16,973 23,569 31,442
2022 5,008 89.5% 17,379 24,440 33,766
2021 7,629 89.7% 18,950 26,773 36,911
2020 951 91.1% 19,936 27,727 39,074

How Long Does a BMW 420I M Sport Auto Last?

Based on 7,627 BMW 420I M Sport Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
3.0 years
Median
3.0 years

BMW 420I M Sport Auto Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all BMW 420I M Sport Auto MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
26,042 mi
75th Percentile
36,250 mi
95th Percentile
57,765 mi
Max Recorded
155,181 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 420I M Sport Auto

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2020

91.1% MOT pass rate from 951 tests

Year to avoid
2022

89.5% MOT pass rate from 5,008 tests

The best year to buy a used BMW 420I M Sport Auto is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.1% across 951 tests. The 2022 model year has the lowest pass rate at 89.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the BMW 420I M Sport Auto Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
BMW 420I M Sport Auto THIS CAR 89.9% 15,587 26,042 mi — yrs
BMW 3 Series 75.1% 12,840,406 90,743 mi 37 yrs
BMW 118 81.5% 1,923,256 64,042 mi 22 yrs
BMW X5 77% 1,735,343 83,401 mi 25 yrs
Fiat Punto S 60 61.7% 23,120 70,351 mi 29 yrs

Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 420I M Sport Auto outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a BMW 420I M Sport Auto you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used BMW 420I M Sport Auto?

The BMW 420I M Sport Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.9% across 15,587 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a BMW 420I M Sport Auto with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical BMW 420I M Sport Auto owner drives around 6,639 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

BMW 420I M Sport Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the BMW 420I M Sport Auto reliable?
Based on 15,587 MOT tests, the BMW 420I M Sport Auto has a 89.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a BMW 420I M Sport Auto?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a BMW 420I M Sport Auto do per year?
The typical BMW 420I M Sport Auto does around 6,639 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a BMW 420I M Sport Auto last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a BMW 420I M Sport Auto?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a BMW 420I M Sport Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used BMW 420I M Sport Auto is 2020 with a 91.1% pass rate across 951 tests.