BMW 4 Series: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 4 Series passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 6.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,237 individual BMW 4 Series tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate83.3%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+6.6 points
Tests analysed1,237
Average mileage at test79,676 miles
Average year of manufacture2014
Reliability rank1,327 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 83.3% first-time pass rate means roughly 17 in every 100 BMW 4 Series presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW 4 Series tested had covered 79,676 miles and was built around 2014.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 4 Series sits 6.6 points above the national average, ranked 1,327 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW 4 Series rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see the median recorded closing bid for a damaged BMW 4 Series: £2,500 at UK salvage auction, from 9 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 4 Series

  1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.1% of tests (2.22x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.6% of tests (2.13x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.1% of tests (1.45x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.2% of tests
  5. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.9% of tests
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.5% of tests
  7. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 1.1% of tests
  8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.9% of tests
  9. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 0.8% of tests
  10. A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber, 0.8% of tests (4.19x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,233 DVSA-tracked BMW 4 Series tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 10.24% of these flagged BMW 4 Series defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 4 Series

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a BMW 4 Series before it actually fails on it.

  1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 6.2% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.5% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.7% of tests (1.17x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 27.5% of tests, also fails
  5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 13.6% of tests
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 9.2% of tests, also fails
  7. A tyre seriously damaged, 7.1% of tests, also fails
  8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 4% of tests, also fails
  9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 2.3% of tests
  10. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.1% of tests

From 1,233 DVSA-tracked BMW 4 Series tests, 2024.

BMW 4 Series pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each BMW 4 Series year:

BMW 4 Series by fuel type

The BMW 4 Series's two most-tested fuel types split by 5.8 points: diesel passes first time 80.9% of the time (655 tests) against 86.7% for petrol (578 tests).

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 4 Series MOT pass rate badge: 83.3%

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BMW 4 Series most common MOT failure: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (2.1% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate