Skip to main content

Bmw M3 - 2004

125.1 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2004 is 384.6 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Bmw M3, model year 2004. Sample size: 1,723 cars, 3,425 tests and 4,284 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,723 cars

The 2004 BMW M3 demonstrates a significantly lower overall defect rate compared to the average car from the same year, with 125 defects per 100 vehicles versus the average of 382. The model excels particularly in brakes, steering, visibility, and lights, showing improvements of over 50% in these areas compared to the average. Interestingly, as mileage increases, defect rates for the M3 also rise, peaking at 349 defects per 100 vehicles for those over 124,000 miles. Overall, the M3 stands out as a reliable option with fewer defects in key categories than its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,723 cars

More model years for Bmw M3

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Other models from Bmw

Bmw 114 Bmw 116 Bmw 118 Bmw 120 Bmw 123 Bmw 125 Bmw 216 Bmw 218 Bmw 220 Bmw 316 Bmw 318 Bmw 320 Bmw 330 Bmw 335 Bmw 418 Bmw 420 Bmw 428 Bmw 430 Bmw 435 Bmw 440 Bmw 518 Bmw 520 Bmw 523 Bmw 525 Bmw 528 Bmw 530 Bmw 535 Bmw 630 Bmw 640 Bmw 645 Bmw 650 Bmw 728 Bmw 730 Bmw 740 Bmw 840 Bmw ALPINA Bmw I3 Bmw I4 Bmw IX3 Bmw M2 Bmw M3 Bmw M340D Bmw M4 Bmw M5 Bmw M6 Bmw X1 Bmw X2 Bmw X3 Bmw X4 Bmw X5 Bmw X6 Bmw X7 Bmw Z3 Bmw Z4

Categories

Brakes
▲ 50.2% better
81.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 164.2 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 90.0% better
2.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 24.9 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
Visibility
▲ 62.1% better
11.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.3 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 77.4% better
24.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 109.9 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
  • Lamp: multiple light source up to a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 71.3% better
89.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 312.9 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
Body/Structure
▲ 81.1% better
12.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 63.6 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Fuel system: leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap
Equipment
▲ 67.4% better
4.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.8 / 100 tests
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • Audible warning:
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▲ 53.1% better
23.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.5 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 533 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 587
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 453
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 308
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 242
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 235
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 155
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 149
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 99
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 92
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 86

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 42
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 39
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 39
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 34
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 33
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 28
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 26
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 25
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 24