BMW C400 MOT pass rate and common failures
BMW C400 motorcycles pass the MOT 94.52% of the time, measured across 365 tests in the DVSA record. A further 1.64% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort - it accounts for 21.4% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check not working and tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (6.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 8,442 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.
Pass rate by age
A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.
| Age at test | Pass rate | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 94.7% | 264 | |
| 6-10 years | 94.06% | 101 |
Why the BMW C400 fails
Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.
| # | Item | Of failures | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 21.4% | 3 | |
| 2 | Not working | 21.4% | 3 | |
| 3 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 21.4% | 3 | |
| 4 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 14.3% | 2 | |
| 5 | Pin or bush excessively worn | 14.3% | 2 | |
| 6 | Too low | 14.3% | 2 | |
| 7 | Damaged or deteriorated resulting in excessive movement | 7.1% | 1 | |
| 8 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 7.1% | 1 | |
| 9 | Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 7.1% | 1 | |
| 10 | Has excessive play | 7.1% | 1 |
Most common advisories
Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.
| # | Item | Of all tests | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 6.8% | 25 | |
| 2 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 3% | 11 | |
| 3 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 1.9% | 7 | |
| 4 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.6% | 6 | |
| 5 | Has negligible damping effect | 0.5% | 2 | |
| 6 | Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied | 0.5% | 2 | |
| 7 | Is so short that the brake cannot be readily applied | 0.5% | 2 | |
| 8 | Nail in tyre | 0.5% | 2 | |
| 9 | Component corroded and seriously weakened | 0.3% | 1 | |
| 10 | Component damaged and seriously weakened | 0.3% | 1 |
BMW C400 for sale
No BMW C400 in stock at the moment - 86 other BMW bikes are advertised.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piaggio VESPA GTS · 240-300cc | 4,305 | 92.15% | 9,875 | |
| Honda CRF 220-250cc · 220-250cc | 2,452 | 89.76% | 7,549 | |
| Royal Enfield HIMALAYAN · 411cc | 2,371 | 88.49% | 8,163 | |
| Royal Enfield METEOR 350 · 349cc | 2,133 | 93.95% | 4,543 | |
| Honda NSS 250-297cc · 250-297cc | 1,397 | 90.34% | 17,407 | |
| Honda CRF 300 LA-M · 286cc | 1,297 | 88.43% | 3,963 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method