2017 BMW 420 2.0L Petrol · J13 BAJ

A recurring theme across the DVSA record for this 2017 BMW 420 is tyre wear, with edge wear advisories flagged at five of the seven recorded tests spanning 2020 through 2026. Both front tyres were noted as worn close to the legal limit and on the edge in 2023, the nearside rear received the same advisory in 2024, and the most recent test on 9 April 2026 recorded both a legal-limit edge wear advisory and slight perishing or cracking on the offside front tyre. Front brake pads have also drawn advisories in two separate years, in 2021 and again in 2023, when rear pads were additionally flagged as wearing thin. Despite these persistent advisories, every annual examination has resulted in a pass with no recorded failures or dangerous defects, indicating that the car has remained roadworthy throughout its testing history. The most recent pass in April 2026, with only the two tyre advisories, is consistent with this generally clean but tyre-prone pattern. With 71,146 miles recorded over nine years, this BMW has covered approximately 7,905 miles annually, which sits broadly in line with typical usage for a vehicle of its age. There are no unusual gaps in the testing record, with tests recorded consistently from 2020 through 2026, suggesting the car has remained in regular service rather than being laid up for extended periods. This steady annual mileage pattern tends to be kinder to seals, gaskets, and brake components than long periods of inactivity followed by sporadic use, although the rear tyre edge wear noted in 2020, 2022, and 2024 may reflect an underlying geometry or suspension geometry issue rather than simple age-related wear. For a prospective buyer, the principal area of attention is the front suspension and wheel geometry, given the persistent nearside and offside front tyre edge wear advisories across multiple tests. On a test drive, listen for any clonking or knocking from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, as worn control arm bushes, drop links, or top mounts on the F32 platform are known contributors to uneven shoulder wear. Pay close attention to steering behaviour; any pulling to one side, vibration through the wheel around 40 to 50 mph, or uneven steering return after cornering would warrant further investigation into the front geometry, tracking settings, and any worn suspension components that could be driving the edge wear. The braking system should also be inspected with the pad wear advisories from 2021 and 2023 in mind. The 2023 advisory noted both front and rear pads wearing thin simultaneously, so a thorough check of current pad material thickness and disc condition, particularly any lipping on the front discs or scoring on the rear, is advisable. On the road, any judder under braking, a soft or excessively long pedal travel, or the vehicle failing to pull up squarely would suggest binding calipers or warped discs. Finally, given the recent advisory regarding slight perishing or cracking on the offside front tyre, inspect all four tyres closely for sidewall cracking, tread depth of at least 3mm across the full width, and ensure replacements are of consistent brand, size, and specification to avoid reintroducing the geometry imbalance that has historically affected this vehicle.