BMW Z3 MOT pass rate: 74.8% (11,143 tests, 2025)

The BMW Z3 passed 74.8% of its 11,143 MOT tests in 2025 — 2.7 points below the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 26 years old with 83,464 miles on the clock.

74.8%Pass rate (2025)

11,143MOT tests analysed

83,464 miMedian mileage at test

26 yrsMedian age at test

How the Z3 compares

BMW Z3

74.8%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

BMW average (all models)

83.0%

What fails most on the BMW Z3

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the Z3:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Brakes	1,931	22.8%
2	Suspension	1,652	19.5%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	1,650	19.5%
4	Noise, emissions and leaks	1,192	14.1%
5	Visibility	678	8.0%
6	Tyres	482	5.7%

Pre-MOT checklist for Z3 owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
A blowing exhaust or visible smoke will fail; warm the engine fully before the test
Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

Z3 pass rate by registration year

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2001	5,302	75.7%	+9.0 pts	79,803
2002	3,192	77.3%	+11.6 pts	77,210

Check a specific Z3 before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other BMW models

3 Series77.7% pass rate · 346,191 tests 11883.0% pass rate · 151,434 tests X185.0% pass rate · 105,826 tests 11678.5% pass rate · 100,371 tests X383.1% pass rate · 88,755 tests 1 Series81.7% pass rate · 77,207 tests X582.4% pass rate · 76,168 tests 5 Series85.7% pass rate · 71,923 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW Z3?

In 2025, 74.8% of 11,143 first MOT tests on the BMW Z3 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Z3 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is brakes (22.8% of its recorded defects), followed by suspension.

Is the BMW Z3 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 74.8% it performs below the national average at a median age of 26 years and 83,464 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.