32,666 tests in 2025
BMW Z4 reliability and MOT pass rate
80.8% passed first time. The 19.2% fail rate is 3.4 points better than the all-car average, on a median example 15 years old with 67,261 miles.
Pass rate
80.8%
22.6% of all cars failed; 19.2% of these did.
Fixed on the day
3.3%
Passed after a defect was put right during the visit.
Median at test
67,261 mi
15 years old.
Fail rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 3,218 | 7.7% |
| 6-9 years | 3,099 | 12.3% |
| 10-13 years | 6,398 | 16.5% |
| 14+ years | 19,891 | 23% |
What the Z4 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.
- Suspension177 dangerous31.9%
- Tyres2,012 dangerous30%
- Brakes468 dangerous25.6%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment20 dangerous22.1%
- Noise, emissions and leaks3 dangerous13.9%
- Visibility5 dangerous13.6%
- Road Wheels506 dangerous7.5%
- Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems7.2%
Is the Z4 getting worse?
The fail rate fell 0.9 points to 19.2% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 2 years. Ageing alone would predict about 3.4 points, so it is holding up better than the fleet average for its age.
| Year | Tests | Median age | Fail rate | All cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 34,686 | 13 | 20.1% | 22.5% | |
| 2023 | 35,537 | 14 | 19.9% | 22.8% | |
| 2024 | 30,465 | 15 | 19.7% | 23.2% | |
| 2025 | 32,663 | 15 | 19.2% | 22.6% |
Fail rate is first attempts at class 4 tests. Median age is the age of a typical Z4 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 Z4 in 2025, counted by how many tests each one appeared on.
- 1Condition: has ply or cords exposed686 tests
- 2Coil spring: fractured or broken552 tests
- 3Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction510 tests
- 4Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm470 tests
- 5Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords457 tests
- 6SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault417 tests
- 7Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively393 tests
- 8Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn387 tests
What wears out first
Advisories are the tester flagging wear that is still legal. A typical Z4 collects 2.73 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 1.6mm4,213 tests
- 2Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened2,689 tests
- 3Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2,608 tests
- 4Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine2,502 tests
- 5Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure2,199 tests
- 6Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1,461 tests
- 7Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1,301 tests
- 8Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1,035 tests
Questions
What is the BMW Z4 MOT pass rate?
80.8% of the 32,666 BMW Z4 first-attempt MOTs in 2025 passed. The fail rate of 19.2% compares with 22.6% across all cars. A further 3.3% passed after a defect was fixed during the test visit.
What does a BMW Z4 usually fail on?
The single most common failure is "Condition: has ply or cords exposed", recorded on 686 failed tests, followed by "Coil spring: fractured or broken" and "Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction". By section, suspension appears in 31.9% of failures, tyres appears in 30% of failures, brakes appears in 25.6% of failures.
Does age change the odds?
Sharply. At 3 to 5 years old the fail rate was 7.7%; at 14+ years it was 23%. The median BMW Z4 tested in 2025 was 15 years old with 67,261 miles.
Is the BMW Z4 getting less reliable?
The fail rate fell 0.9 points to 19.2% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 2 years. Ageing alone would predict about 3.4 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 Z4 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 14 safety recalls naming the BMW Z4: BMW Z4 recalls.
Other BMW models
Checking a particular Z4?
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.