BMW Z3: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW Z3 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 3.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 11,800 individual BMW Z3 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate73.1%
UK national average76.7%
Difference-3.6 points
Tests analysed11,800
Average mileage at test85,278 miles
Average year of manufacture1999
Reliability rank1,674 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 73.1% first-time pass rate means roughly 27 in every 100 BMW Z3s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average BMW Z3 tested had covered 85,278 miles and was built around 1999.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a BMW Z3 bought as a repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

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 Z3 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 what damaged BMW Z3s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW Z3

  1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 3.2% of tests (11x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 2% of tests (9.25x the national rate for this defect)
  3. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 2.3% of tests (7.45x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 2.2% of tests (5.62x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Warning device shows system malfunction, 1.7% of tests (5.49x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 3.3% of tests (4.02x the national rate for this defect)
  7. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.4% of tests (2.87x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.5% of tests (2.04x the national rate for this defect)
  9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.5% of tests (1.9x the national rate for this defect)
  10. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.6% of tests (1.6x the national rate for this defect)

From 25,393 DVSA-tracked BMW Z3 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.26% of these flagged BMW Z3 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW Z3 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 Z3 year:

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW Z3 MOT pass rate badge: 73.1%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate