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BMW 440 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid

What the BMW 440 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 11,425 MOT tests across 6 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).

Segment: premium performance | Fuel: Petrol

91%

BMW 440 pass rate

88%

BMW average

82%

All-model average

The BMW 440 has an average MOT pass rate of 91%, which is 3 points above the BMW average and 9 points above the average across all models in our data. The BMW 440 has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 2 percentage points.

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What the BMW 440 Fails Its MOT On

Of the 552 MOT tests on the BMW 440 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.

Tyres

57%

Cars and vans the same age: 29% (the 440 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300

Lights and electrics

16%

Cars and vans the same age: 27% (the 440 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200

Brakes

11%

Cars and vans the same age: 19% (the 440 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £80-£450

Suspension

9.1%

Cars and vans the same age: 22% (the 440 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600

Wheels

7.4%

Cars and vans the same age: 1.5% (the 440 fails on this more often)

The 3 single faults it failed on most

  1. Tyre has ply or cords exposed (19% of failed tests, tyres)
  2. Tyre has a cut deep enough to reach the ply or cords (17% of failed tests, tyres)
  3. Tyre has a bulge from separation or failure of its structure (13% of failed tests, tyres)

Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.

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BMW 440 Years to Avoid

Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each 440 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.

Failed more often than cars their age

No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.

Passed more often than cars their age

  • 2016: 93% passed, against 86% for all 2016 cars (7 points higher, 2,009 tests)
  • 2017: 91% passed, against 87% for all 2017 cars (4 points higher, 3,642 tests)
  • 2018: 92% passed, against 89% for all 2018 cars (3 points higher, 3,768 tests)

A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.

BMW 440 Reliability by Year

MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.

2016
93%
Highest
2017
91%
2018
92%
2019
89%
Lowest
2020
90%
2021
92%
YearFuelEnginePass RateFail RateAll Cars
2021Petrol3.0L92%4%-
2020Petrol3.0L90%9%-
2019Petrol3.0L89%10%91% (-2)
2018Petrol3.0L92%8%89% (+3)
2017Petrol3.0L91%8%87% (+4)
2016Petrol3.0L93%7%86% (+7)

BMW 440 Running Costs

Want to know the full annual running costs for the BMW 440? Including fuel, road tax, the MOT and predicted repairs based on MOT pass rates, plus an estimated insurance group.

View BMW 440 Running Costs

BMW 440 FAQ

What are the most common BMW 440 problems?

In 2025, MOT tests on the BMW 440 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on tyres (57% of the 552 failed tests), lights and electrics (16%) and brakes (11%). The single most common fault was "Tyre has ply or cords exposed" (19%). Across 11,425 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 91% ended in a pass.

Is the BMW 440 reliable?

The BMW 440 has an average MOT pass rate of 91%, from 11,425 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 3 points more often on average, a better than average result for its age.

Which BMW 440 years should I avoid?

No BMW 440 year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2016 (93% of 2,009 tests passed, against 86% for all 2016 cars), the 2017 (91% of 3,642 tests passed, against 87% for all 2017 cars) and the 2018 (92% of 3,768 tests passed, against 89% for all 2018 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.

How much does it cost to fix common BMW 440 faults?

As a rough guide, brake work on a BMW 440 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.

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