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A21 TCT

2004 BMW 3 Series

Grey Petrol 1995cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Oct 2026
Tests27 (19 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate70.4%

Mileage

138,373 mi
Last recorded138,373 miles
Recorded on24 Oct 2025
Typical for 2004 BMW 3 Series89,350 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationA21 TCT
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year2004
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,995cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

19 pass 8 fail
Pass 24 Oct 2025 138,373 miles

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

unable to see outer sills due to covers fitted

Pass 6 Aug 2024 136,048 miles

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

air box missing

exhaust has slight leak

unable to see outer sills due to covers fitted

Fail 6 Aug 2024 136,048 miles

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

air box missing

exhaust has slight leak

unable to see outer sills due to covers fitted

Fail 27 Jul 2024 136,037 miles

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (8.2.2.1 (a))

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam bulb missing (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp indicator lights up when side lights are switched on (4.2.3 (c))

Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam bulb missing (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp indicator lights up when side light is switched on. (4.2.3 (c))

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

air filter in place but air box missing

Pass 28 Jul 2023 134,487 miles
Pass 26 Jul 2022 133,280 miles

Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both sides (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output both sides (4.1.4 (b))

Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both sides (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front mirror cover missing

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil both sides (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 25 Jul 2022 133,278 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre(s) of different sizes are fitted on the same axle. (5.2.3 (b))

Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both sides (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output both sides (4.1.4 (b))

Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both sides (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front mirror cover missing

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil both sides (5.3.2 (b))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps both sides (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Pass 8 Jul 2021 127,371 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both sides (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output both sides (4.1.4 (b))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Mirror cover missing

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both sides (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 28 Jul 2020 120,047 miles

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both sides (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both sides (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 10 Jun 2019 112,844 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement wishbone rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 13 Jun 2018 108,133 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement wishbone arm rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 6 Jun 2017 100,799 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 16 Jun 2016 94,166 miles
Fail 16 Jun 2016 94,166 miles

Front Exhaust system not adequately supported bracket broken. (7.1.1)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt +excessive play on ball joint. (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Front Inner Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a) DANGEROUS

Pass 20 May 2015 86,616 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

Pass 7 Jun 2014 76,846 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Fail 6 Jun 2014 76,845 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Inner Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Inner Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is excessively worn (3.1.5)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 7 Jun 2013 72,082 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 15 Jun 2012 66,296 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2011 59,107 miles
Fail 13 Jun 2011 59,105 miles

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

1.advice to get tracking done.

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 20 May 2010 51,633 miles
Fail 20 May 2010 51,633 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 8 Jun 2009 45,145 miles
Fail 8 Jun 2009 45,142 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Pass 26 Mar 2008 35,329 miles
Pass 2 Apr 2007 24,615 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 3 Series?

Based on 12,840,406 MOT tests across 1,004,285 vehicles.

75.1%
Pass Rate
6,672
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
1,004,285
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 485,475
Brake pipe excessively corroded 323,327
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 253,205
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 185,099
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 182,360
Full BMW 3 Series reliability report

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A21 TCT is a 2004 BMW 3 Series in Grey with a 1,995cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.4%.

Across all 2004 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.5% with a typical mileage of 89,350 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a BMW 3 Series fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 485,475 recorded failures. If you're considering buying A21 TCT, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 3 Series typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 22 years old, this BMW 3 Series is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of A21 TCT?

You can check the full history of A21 TCT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A21 TCT registered?

A21 TCT is a 2004 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 31 March 2004.

Is A21 TCT safe to buy?

The MOT history for A21 TCT shows 27 tests with a 70.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A21 TCT have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on A21 TCT. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.