BMW Z4 MOT pass rate: 80.9% (35,014 tests, 2025)

The BMW Z4 passed 80.9% of its 35,014 MOT tests in 2025 — 3.4 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 15 years old with 66,847 miles on the clock.

80.9%Pass rate (2025)

35,014MOT tests analysed

66,847 miMedian mileage at test

15 yrsMedian age at test

How the Z4 compares

BMW Z4

80.9%

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 Z4

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the Z4:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Suspension	3,015	20.7%
2	Brakes	2,888	19.8%
3	Tyres	2,860	19.7%
4	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2,284	15.7%
5	Noise, emissions and leaks	1,255	8.6%
6	Visibility	1,118	7.7%

Pre-MOT checklist for Z4 owners

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

Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
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

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

Z4 pass rate by registration year

Strongest age-adjusted years: 2009, 2010. Full ranking and method: BMW Z4 years to avoid.

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2003	7,485	72.7%	+7.6 pts	96,939
2004	9,172	73.8%	+9.4 pts	93,996
2005	6,205	70.1%	+5.5 pts	91,692
2006	9,082	75.3%	+10.9 pts	87,238
2007	9,397	76.8%	+11.6 pts	84,066
2008	5,444	75.1%	+10.0 pts	78,779
2009	7,368	83.1%	+16.7 pts	71,830
2010	5,868	82.5%	+15.2 pts	68,452
2011	5,863	83.8%	+14.6 pts	62,277
2012	5,564	82.7%	+11.5 pts	61,464
2013	4,688	82.7%	+9.4 pts	55,792
2014	5,699	85.2%	+9.3 pts	49,829
2015	4,720	85.9%	+7.2 pts	44,352
2016	3,636	84.8%	+3.5 pts	36,622
2019	5,982	90.7%	+2.3 pts	23,453
2020	4,548	92.0%	+2.1 pts	19,782
2021	2,104	91.8%	+1.4 pts	19,093

Check a specific Z4 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 Z4?

In 2025, 80.9% of 35,014 first MOT tests on the BMW Z4 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Z4 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is suspension (20.7% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the BMW Z4 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 80.9% it performs above the national average at a median age of 15 years and 66,847 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.