2004 BMW Z4 MOT pass rate: 73.8% (9,172 tests)
Is the 2004 Z4 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 73.0% +9.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 74.5% +10.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 74.0% +8.7 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2004 Z4
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 1,679 | 24.7% |
| 2 | Suspension | 1,620 | 23.8% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,188 | 17.5% |
| 4 | Tyres | 596 | 8.8% |
| 5 | Visibility | 486 | 7.1% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 460 | 6.8% |
All Z4 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 7,485 | 72.7% | +7.6 pts | 96,939 |
| 2004 (this page) | 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 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: BMW Z4 years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2004 BMW Z4 reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 73.8% of their MOT tests (9,172 tests, 2023–2025), +9.4 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 93,996 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 Z4?
The median tested example shows 93,996 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.