2013 BMW Z4 MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 80.3% of BMW Z4s first used in 2013 passed their MOT first time, against 65.8% for all cars first used in 2013. Across 4,760 Z4 first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, suspension and road wheels.

This page analyses first MOT tests for BMW Z4s first used in 2013 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
80.3%
of 1,575 first tests; all cars first used in 2013: 65.8%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
4,760
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,575 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
49.0%
of 1,575 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
59,000
middle half: 43,000–77,500 miles; all cars first used in 2013: 86,500

How the 2013 BMW Z4 MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Z4s first used in 2013 against all cars first used in 2013 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Z4 figure was 14.5 points higher.

2013 Z4All cars first used in 2013
60%70%80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2013, test year 2021: 72.1%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2022: 70.3%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2023: 68.3%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2024: 66.8%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2025: 65.8%2013 Z4, test year 2021: 83.2%2013 Z4, test year 2022: 83%2013 Z4, test year 2023: 80.4%2013 Z4, test year 2024: 82%2013 Z4, test year 2025: 80.3%80.3%65.8%
View this chart as a table
Test year2013 Z4All cars first used 2013Z4 first tests
202183.2%72.1%1,644
202283.0%70.3%1,619
202380.4%68.3%1,605
202482.0%66.8%1,580
202580.3%65.8%1,575

Common 2013 BMW Z4 MOT failures

Share of the 911 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Tyres39.6%
Suspension18.8%
Road Wheels17.9%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment17.7%
Visibility14.9%
Brakes12.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.1%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed16.9%154
Road wheel condition: fractured15.0%137
Coil spring: fractured or broken13.1%119
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords10.3%94
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively7.8%71

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Z4 in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2013 BMW Z4 before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Wheels. Worth looking at each wheel rim for cracks, buckles and kerb damage.

Common 2013 BMW Z4 MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2013 Z4s, as a share of all 4,760 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge13.6%647
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened10.3%492
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing7.6%364
Brake pads: wearing thin6.2%294
Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.4%112

Questions about the 2013 BMW Z4 MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2013 BMW Z4?

In 2025, 80.3% of Z4s first used in 2013 passed their MOT first time, against 65.8% for all cars first used in 2013. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2013 Z4 most often fail its MOT on?

Tyres (in 39.6% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (18.8%) and road wheels (17.9%). The single most common item was “Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed” (16.9%).

How often does a 2013 BMW Z4 fail its MOT?

In 2025, 19.7% of first tests on Z4s first used in 2013 did not pass first time: 17.4% failed, and a further 2.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 911 of 4,760 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2013 BMW Z4 MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 13.6% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (10.3%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (7.6%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (6.2%) and “Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords” (2.4%).

Is a 2013 BMW Z4 reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 83.2% in 2021 to 80.3% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2013

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2013 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2013 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2013 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2013 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2013 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics

How the 2013 BMW Z4 MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2013 Z4” means a BMW Z4 whose date of first use falls in 2013 (62, 13 and 63 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2013, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.