2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 Bentley Continental MOT pass rate and common faults

960 MOT tests in 2024. 86.3% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

153Well above average
Passed first time86.3%
Failed or needed repairs13.7%
Typical mileage at test70,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 960 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.4%
  2. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits1.3%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed0.6%
    9 marked dangerous
  4. Position lamp: not working0.6%
  5. Service brake performance: excessively binding0.6%
  6. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits0.6%
  7. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.6%
  8. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn0.6%
  9. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.5%
    5 marked dangerous

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Emissions & leaks6.0%
  2. Brakes4.6%
  3. Lights & electrics2.9%
  4. Tyres2.4%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.9%
  6. Suspension1.5%
  7. Body & chassis0.9%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm8.3%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.2%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure6.3%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.5%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick4.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Bentley Continental?

In 2024, 86.3% of 2004 Bentley Continental cars passed their MOT first time, across 960 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Bentley Continental?

The most common failure reasons were malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was emissions & leaks.

Is the 2004 Bentley Continental reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 153, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).