12,494 tests in 2025
BMW M4 reliability and MOT pass rate
88.8% passed first time. The 11.2% fail rate is 11.4 points better than the all-car average, on a median example 7 years old with 39,602 miles.
Pass rate
88.8%
22.6% of all cars failed; 11.2% of these did.
Fixed on the day
1.2%
Passed after a defect was put right during the visit.
Median at test
39,602 mi
7 years old.
Fail rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 3,241 | 7.3% |
| 6-9 years | 6,684 | 12.9% |
| 10-13 years | 2,500 | 11.9% |
| 14+ years | 0 | — |
What the M4 fails on
Share of failed tests with at least one fail item in each DVSA inspection section. A test can fail in several sections at once.
- Tyres875 dangerous55.7%
- Suspension4 dangerous30.1%
- Brakes24 dangerous7.5%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment6.9%
- Noise, emissions and leaks1 dangerous6.4%
- Identification of the vehicle5.2%
- Visibility5.1%
- Road Wheels8 dangerous2%
Is the M4 getting worse?
The fail rate rose 1.4 points to 12.4% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 3 years. Ageing alone would predict about 6.6 points, so it is holding up better than the fleet average for its age.
| Year | Tests | Median age | Fail rate | All cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 10,928 | 5 | 11% | 22.5% | |
| 2023 | 11,658 | 6 | 11.6% | 22.8% | |
| 2024 | 9,559 | 7 | 11.8% | 23.2% | |
| 2025 | 10,186 | 8 | 12.4% | 22.6% |
Fail rate is first attempts at class 4 tests. Median age is the age of a typical M4 at its test that year, and it is the number to watch: across the whole fleet each extra year of age adds roughly 1.9 points to the fail rate, so a model whose age and fail rate rise together is simply getting older.
The exact defects that fail it
Every failure item DVSA recorded against a M4 in 2025, counted by how many tests each one appeared on.
- 1Condition: has ply or cords exposed387 tests
- 2Coil spring: fractured or broken333 tests
- 3Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords214 tests
- 4Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm119 tests
- 5Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn71 tests
- 6Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements65 tests
- 7Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure58 tests
- 8Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits37 tests
What wears out first
Advisories are the tester flagging wear that is still legal. A typical M4 collects 2.04 of them per test, and these are the ones that come up most. Treat it as the running-repairs list for the next year or two.
- 1Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1,249 tests
- 2Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened512 tests
- 3Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure390 tests
- 4Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre298 tests
- 5Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords220 tests
- 6Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm193 tests
- 7Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine185 tests
- 8Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick179 tests
Questions
What is the BMW M4 MOT pass rate?
88.8% of the 12,494 BMW M4 first-attempt MOTs in 2025 passed. The fail rate of 11.2% compares with 22.6% across all cars. A further 1.2% passed after a defect was fixed during the test visit.
What does a BMW M4 usually fail on?
The single most common failure is "Condition: has ply or cords exposed", recorded on 387 failed tests, followed by "Coil spring: fractured or broken" and "Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords". By section, tyres appears in 55.7% of failures, suspension appears in 30.1% of failures, brakes appears in 7.5% of failures.
Does age change the odds?
Sharply. At 3 to 5 years old the fail rate was 7.3%; at 10-13 years it was 11.9%. The median BMW M4 tested in 2025 was 7 years old with 39,602 miles.
Is the BMW M4 getting less reliable?
The fail rate rose 1.4 points to 12.4% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 3 years. Ageing alone would predict about 6.6 points, so it is holding up better than the fleet average for its age.
First-attempt class 4 tests, 2025, from DVSA’s anonymised MOT data (OGL v3, retrieved 2026-09-12). DVSA records newer cars trim by trim; this page adds every M4 trim together. Year-on-year figures come from the same DVSA extracts for 2026 and earlier years. Full method on the pass rates hub.
DVSA has published 5 safety recalls naming the BMW M4: BMW M4 recalls.
Other BMW models
Checking a particular M4?
The odds above are the model. The car in front of you has its own record: every test, every advisory, the mileage at each one.
Due a test? Find an approved MOT station near you.