In 2025, 35,177 BMW Z4 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 78% passed first time, compared with 65% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Z4 better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 6 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 3 years old, 92% of Z4s passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 20 years, that figure is 65% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 3 to 20 years.
BMW Z4 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Z4 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 935 | 92% | 88% | 17,512 |
| 4 years | 1,072 | 91% | 87% | 23,890 |
| 5 years | 1,528 | 90% | 86% | 27,393 |
| 6 years | 2,013 | 89% | 84% | 31,031 |
| 9 years | 1,230 | 82% | 75% | 44,129 |
| 10 years | 1,587 | 82% | 72% | 50,842 |
| 11 years | 1,916 | 82% | 69% | 55,931 |
| 12 years | 1,575 | 80% | 66% | 61,488 |
| 13 years | 1,833 | 80% | 63% | 66,241 |
| 14 years | 1,965 | 81% | 61% | 68,304 |
| 15 years | 1,956 | 80% | 59% | 73,792 |
| 16 years | 2,426 | 80% | 58% | 76,701 |
| 17 years | 1,749 | 70% | 57% | 81,416 |
| 18 years | 3,099 | 73% | 57% | 87,829 |
| 19 years | 2,876 | 71% | 57% | 89,650 |
| 20 years | 1,948 | 65% | 58% | 93,843 |
What fails most on a BMW Z4
The area that lets the Z4 down most, relative to other cars, is road wheels: 1.9% of tests failed on it, 15.4 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on lights and electrics and suspension.
Share of Z4 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 3.3% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 3.3% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 2.9% |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | Tyres | 2.7% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 2.0% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 2.0% |
What to check when buying a used Z4
Based on where the Z4 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Road wheels: Look for damaged rims and missing wheel nuts. More
- Seat belts and airbags: Pull every belt out fully and let it retract, check the buckles latch, and make sure the airbag light goes out after starting. More
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific Z4
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a Z4Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW Z4?
In 2025, 78% of BMW Z4 cars passed their MOT first time, across 35,177 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 65%.
What do BMW Z4 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (3.3% of tests); a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (3.3% of tests); a tyre seriously damaged (2.9% of tests).
Other BMW models
BMW 3 Series (73%), BMW 118 (79%), BMW X1 (82%), BMW 116 (72%), BMW X3 (79%), BMW 1 Series (78%). All BMW models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.