BMW 840 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 840 car check
Is the BMW 840 reliable? We analysed 28,318 real MOT tests across 1,862 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 840? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 840 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, headlamp aim too low and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 840.
BMW 840 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 840. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 840 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 840 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 840 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW 840 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW 840 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 840 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 840 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 840 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 59 | 96.6% | 23,018 | 39,230 | 56,519 |
| 2000 | 66 | 81.8% | 67,722 | 80,418 | 83,660 |
| 1999 | 3,770 | 77.6% | 61,837 | 82,746 | 112,499 |
| 1998 | 4,656 | 75.7% | 67,134 | 89,197 | 112,263 |
| 1997 | 7,185 | 75.1% | 77,994 | 100,467 | 123,952 |
| 1996 | 3,922 | 74.4% | 80,702 | 105,519 | 127,646 |
| 1995 | 5,598 | 71.8% | 86,835 | 109,077 | 134,612 |
| 1994 | 2,530 | 70.6% | 82,781 | 109,948 | 134,558 |
| 1993 | 372 | 70.4% | 91,504 | 110,890 | 127,447 |
How Long Does a BMW 840 Last?
Based on 1,862 BMW 840 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 840 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 840 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 840
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
96.6% MOT pass rate from 59 tests
70.4% MOT pass rate from 372 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 840 is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.6% across 59 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 840 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 840 THIS CAR | 74.4% | 28,318 | 99,376 mi | 33 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 |
| Jeep G-cherokee Overland Crd A | 76% | 39,201 | 88,556 mi | 20 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 840 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 840 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.
Check a specific BMW 840Should you buy a used BMW 840?
The BMW 840 has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.4% across 28,318 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the BMW 840 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (937 recorded failures), headlamp aim too low (780), and brake pipe excessively corroded (741). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical BMW 840 owner drives around 1,508 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.
In terms of longevity, most BMW 840 models stay on UK roads for around 33 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
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.