BMW Z4 MOT pass rates & common failures

Every completed first-attempt MOT on a BMW Z4 in Great Britain in 2025 — 35,180 tests. Figures cover every Z4 first-tested in 2025, all trims grouped. How the Z4 ages, what it fails on, and what mileage is normal, computed directly from the official DVSA record of every test.

Pass rate 2025
77.7%
5.4 points above the class-4 average (72.3%); unadjusted for age — the age-matched comparison is below
Tests analysed
35,180
first tests, 2025
Arrived with a dangerous fault
7.0%
of Z4 first tests; national 7.3%
Typical mileage at 10 years
48,750
middle half: 33,750–63,750 miles (2,500-mile-band midpoints)

How many BMW Z4 cars are still on the road?

At the end of 2025, DVLA's register held 40,430 BMW Z4 cars that were taxed or on SORN: 32,458 taxed and 7,972 on SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification — kept, but declared off the road by the keeper). The MOT figures above count tests; these count cars, across the whole United Kingdom, cars only. BMW Z4 vans, where they exist, are counted by DVLA as goods vehicles and are not in these figures.

Still taxed, end of 2025
32,458
80.3% of the 40,430 Z4 cars taxed or on SORN; 70 model variants grouped
On SORN, end of 2025
7,972
declared off the road by their keepers — 19.7% of that total

How the numbers are moving

The number of taxed Z4 cars peaked at 34,097 at the end of 2016 and has since fallen by 1,639 (4.8%) to 32,458 at the end of 2025. Cars on SORN went from 1,318 at the end of 2014 to 7,972 at the end of 2025, up 504.9%. A car leaves the taxed count when it is scrapped, exported or declared off the road; the year-end counts do not say which.

Taxed Z4 cars, year by year

Cars of this model taxed and on the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025.

010k20k30k40k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Taxed Z4 cars, year 2014: 33kTaxed Z4 cars, year 2015: 34kTaxed Z4 cars, year 2016: 34kTaxed Z4 cars, year 2017: 34kTaxed Z4 cars, year 2018: 33kTaxed Z4 cars, year 2019: 33kTaxed Z4 cars, year 2020: 34kTaxed Z4 cars, year 2021: 34kTaxed Z4 cars, year 2022: 34kTaxed Z4 cars, year 2023: 34kTaxed Z4 cars, year 2024: 33kTaxed Z4 cars, year 2025: 32k32k
View this chart as a table
YearTaxed Z4 cars
201432,838
201533,715
201634,097
201733,589
201832,501
201933,207
202033,680
202133,865
202233,886
202333,608
202432,841
202532,458

Z4 cars on SORN, year by year

Cars of this model declared off the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025. Its own scale — SORN counts are a fraction of the taxed count.

02k4k6k8k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Z4 cars on SORN, year 2014: 1kZ4 cars on SORN, year 2015: 2kZ4 cars on SORN, year 2016: 2kZ4 cars on SORN, year 2017: 3kZ4 cars on SORN, year 2018: 3kZ4 cars on SORN, year 2019: 4kZ4 cars on SORN, year 2020: 5kZ4 cars on SORN, year 2021: 5kZ4 cars on SORN, year 2022: 6kZ4 cars on SORN, year 2023: 6kZ4 cars on SORN, year 2024: 7kZ4 cars on SORN, year 2025: 8k8k
View this chart as a table
YearZ4 cars on SORN
20141,318
20151,611
20162,060
20172,597
20183,289
20194,058
20204,960
20215,034
20225,693
20236,347
20247,308
20257,972

Which model years survive

Taxed Z4 cars at the end of 2025 by year of manufacture, and each year's share of the 32,458 taxed in all. Every build year holding at least 1% has its own row; the rest share one. A build year's count depends on how many were sold that year as well as how many have lasted.

Year of manufacture Taxed, end of 2025Share of taxed Z4 cars
20256011.9%
20247722.4%
20237682.4%
20227922.4%
20219452.9%
20201,4074.3%
20191,8495.7%
20161,1723.6%
20151,5084.6%
20141,8135.6%
20131,4754.5%
20121,7195.3%
20111,8145.6%
20101,7775.5%
20092,2056.8%
20081,4724.5%
20072,5327.8%
20062,2426.9%
20051,4404.4%
20042,2376.9%
20031,7865.5%
All other build years (two years, each under 1%)1320.4%

Population source: Department for Transport / DVLA vehicle licensing statistics, table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026; counts of the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, United Kingdom, cars only, excluding cars recorded with no model name. SortedCars groups DVLA's model name Z4 under this model. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, DVLA or the Department for Transport.

How the Z4 ages

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, Z4 vs all cars, 2025.

BMW Z4All cars
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)BMW Z4, vehicle age 3: 92.3%BMW Z4, vehicle age 4: 91.2%BMW Z4, vehicle age 5: 90.5%BMW Z4, vehicle age 6: 88.8%BMW Z4, vehicle age 9: 82.5%BMW Z4, vehicle age 10: 81.9%BMW Z4, vehicle age 11: 82%BMW Z4, vehicle age 12: 80.3%BMW Z4, vehicle age 13: 80%BMW Z4, vehicle age 14: 81.2%BMW Z4, vehicle age 15: 80.1%BMW Z4, vehicle age 16: 79.6%BMW Z4, vehicle age 17: 69.7%BMW Z4, vehicle age 18: 73.1%BMW Z4, vehicle age 19: 71.2%BMW Z4, vehicle age 20: 64.6%All cars, vehicle age 3: 88.5%All cars, vehicle age 4: 87.2%All cars, vehicle age 5: 86%All cars, vehicle age 6: 83.5%All cars, vehicle age 7: 80.9%All cars, vehicle age 8: 78.2%All cars, vehicle age 9: 74.9%All cars, vehicle age 10: 71.9%All cars, vehicle age 11: 68.6%All cars, vehicle age 12: 65.8%All cars, vehicle age 13: 63.5%All cars, vehicle age 14: 61.2%All cars, vehicle age 15: 59.3%All cars, vehicle age 16: 58.3%All cars, vehicle age 17: 57.2%All cars, vehicle age 18: 57.4%All cars, vehicle age 19: 57%All cars, vehicle age 20: 57.6%BMW Z4 64.6%All cars 57.6%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Z4 testsZ4 pass rateAll cars
393692.3%88.5%
41,07291.2%87.2%
51,52890.5%86.0%
62,01488.8%83.5%
91,23082.5%74.9%
101,58781.9%71.9%
111,91682.0%68.6%
121,57580.3%65.8%
131,83380.0%63.5%
141,96581.2%61.2%
151,95680.1%59.3%
162,42679.6%58.3%
171,74969.7%57.2%
183,09973.1%57.4%
192,87671.2%57.0%
201,94864.6%57.6%

Better or worse than the average car?

The Z4's pass rate minus the all-cars pass rate at each age, in percentage points. Bars above zero: the Z4 beats the average car of that age. Below zero: it trails.

Z4 ahead
-22-11+0+11+22Age 3: +3.8 points vs the average car3Age 4: +4.0 points vs the average carAge 5: +4.5 points vs the average car5Age 6: +5.3 points vs the average carAge 9: +7.6 points vs the average car9Age 10: +10.0 points vs the average carAge 11: +13.4 points vs the average car11Age 12: +14.5 points vs the average carAge 13: +16.5 points vs the average car13Age 14: +20.0 points vs the average carAge 15: +20.8 points vs the average car15Age 16: +21.3 points vs the average carAge 17: +12.5 points vs the average car17Age 18: +15.7 points vs the average carAge 19: +14.2 points vs the average car19Age 20: +7.0 points vs the average car20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
3+3.8
4+4.0
5+4.5
6+5.3
9+7.6
10+10.0
11+13.4
12+14.5
13+16.5
14+20.0
15+20.8
16+21.3
17+12.5
18+15.7
19+14.2
20+7.0

The Z4 fleet on the road, by age

How many took a first MOT in 2025 at each age — the shape of the Z4 fleet still in use.

01k2k3k4kAge 3: 9363Age 4: 1kAge 5: 1k5Age 6: 2kAge 9: 1k9Age 10: 1kAge 11: 1k11Age 12: 1kAge 13: 1k13Age 14: 1kAge 15: 1k15Age 16: 2kAge 17: 1k17Age 18: 3kAge 19: 2k19Age 20: 1k20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
3936
41,072
51,528
62,014
91,230
101,587
111,916
121,575
131,833
141,965
151,956
162,426
171,749
183,099
192,876
201,948

What a Z4 fails on

Where the failure items land when a Z4 fails or needs a fix at test, 2025. Use it as a pre-purchase checklist: these are the areas to look at first.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment18.7%
Suspension17.9%
Brakes17.3%
Tyres17.2%
Visibility8.9%
Noise, emissions and leaks8.2%
Road Wheels4.0%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems3.2%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (95.3% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

Where testers most often write "keep an eye on this" for a Z4, 2025 — the faults in the post.

Brakes: 32.5% of advisories32.5%Tyres: 29.8% of advisories29.8%Suspension: 21.5% of advisories21.5%Noise, emissions and leaks: 7.1% of advisories7.1%Non-component advisories: 3.1% of advisoriesBody, chassis, structure: 1.9% of advisories
BrakesTyresSuspensionNoise, emissions and leaksNon-component advisoriesBody, chassis, structure
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Brakes32.5%
Tyres29.8%
Suspension21.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks7.1%
Non-component advisories3.1%
Body, chassis, structure1.9%

What mileage is normal for a Z4?

Mileage recorded at test by vehicle age, 2025. The line is the typical (median) Z4; the shaded band holds the middle half. A car far outside the band, in either direction, is worth questions the recorded history can answer.

Typical Z4 (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k359111315171920Vehicle age (years)Age 3: typical 16,250 miles (middle half 11,250–23,750)Age 4: typical 21,250 miles (middle half 16,250–31,250)Age 5: typical 26,250 miles (middle half 18,750–33,750)Age 6: typical 28,750 miles (middle half 21,250–38,750)Age 9: typical 41,250 miles (middle half 28,750–56,250)Age 10: typical 48,750 miles (middle half 33,750–63,750)Age 11: typical 53,750 miles (middle half 38,750–71,250)Age 12: typical 58,750 miles (middle half 43,750–78,750)Age 13: typical 66,250 miles (middle half 46,250–83,750)Age 14: typical 66,250 miles (middle half 48,750–83,750)Age 15: typical 71,250 miles (middle half 53,750–91,250)Age 16: typical 76,250 miles (middle half 53,750–96,250)Age 17: typical 81,250 miles (middle half 61,250–101,250)Age 18: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 63,750–108,750)Age 19: typical 88,750 miles (middle half 66,250–111,250)Age 20: typical 93,750 miles (middle half 71,250–116,250)93k mi

Mileage values are midpoints of 2,500-mile bands.

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
311,25016,25023,750
416,25021,25031,250
518,75026,25033,750
621,25028,75038,750
928,75041,25056,250
1033,75048,75063,750
1138,75053,75071,250
1243,75058,75078,750
1346,25066,25083,750
1448,75066,25083,750
1553,75071,25091,250
1653,75076,25096,250
1761,25081,250101,250
1863,75086,250108,750
1966,25088,750111,250
2071,25093,750116,250

What fails at each age

The Z4's failure mix by age band, 2025 — each band's top categories at their true share of that band's failure items; the pale remainder is everything else. How the mix shifts with age is the point of the chart.

TyresIdentification of the vehicleLamps, reflectors and electrical equipmentVisibilitySuspensionRoad WheelsBrakesNoise, emissions and leaksEverything else
View this chart as a table
Age bandCategoryShare of the band's failure items
3-5 yrsTyres76.0%
3-5 yrsIdentification of the vehicle5.9%
3-5 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment5.2%
3-5 yrsVisibility4.7%
3-5 yrsSuspension3.5%
3-5 yrsEverything else4.7%
6-9 yrsTyres54.1%
6-9 yrsRoad Wheels12.0%
6-9 yrsSuspension8.7%
6-9 yrsVisibility8.4%
6-9 yrsBrakes7.0%
6-9 yrsEverything else9.8%
10-13 yrsTyres33.2%
10-13 yrsRoad Wheels14.2%
10-13 yrsSuspension13.6%
10-13 yrsBrakes11.5%
10-13 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment11.3%
10-13 yrsEverything else16.2%
14+ yrsSuspension21.9%
14+ yrsBrakes21.3%
14+ yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment16.3%
14+ yrsTyres12.6%
14+ yrsNoise, emissions and leaks9.6%
14+ yrsEverything else18.3%

More vehicles we've checked

How these figures are computed. Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from the DVSA anonymised MOT results dataset (every MOT test in Great Britain — 2025 for single-year figures; trend figures state their span, currently 2023–2025). Where a figure comes from a sample or uses banded values (mileage is banded to 2,500 miles), the page says so beside the figure. Test class 4 only, first tests only — retests are excluded. Class 4 is the car MOT class and also covers car-derived vans, pickups and motorhomes tested to the same standard; where this page says "cars" it means class 4. Pass rate = passes ÷ (passes + failures + pass-after-rectification): a vehicle that failed and was fixed during the visit counts as a fail. Pass rates describe fleets, not individual machines: they reflect how cars were driven, maintained and used as well as how they were built, and beyond recorded mileage none of that is in the data. A well-kept example of a model with a weak average can still pass; a neglected example of a strong one can still fail. No figure is shown for any group with fewer than 500 tests. Alias spellings of a make in the DVSA file are counted under one make name, and all trims and variants of a model are grouped under one model name, using SortedCars' grouping tables. The taxed and SORN counts on this page are the one exception: they are not computed from MOT records but taken from the Department for Transport's vehicle licensing statistics (DfT/DVLA table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0), which count the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, UK-wide, cars only. They describe a model as a whole, grouped under SortedCars' model names, and say nothing about any one car. “Dangerous” is DVSA's statutory defect category (in force since May 2018): a defect posing an immediate risk to road safety — driving the vehicle before repair is an offence. What these figures are for. These statistics are general information about groups of vehicles. They are not advice, a valuation or a recommendation to buy, avoid or price any particular vehicle, and no decision about one car should rest on them alone — check the car itself and its own records. We take care over the calculations, but we cannot guarantee they are complete, current or free of error, and we accept no liability for loss arising from reliance on them. This does not limit any liability that cannot lawfully be limited — see our Terms & Conditions. If you believe any figure on this page is inaccurate, contact us. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the DVSA or DVLA. DVSA publishes the raw test records; the statistics on this page are SortedCars' own calculations from them. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.