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

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. The BMW Z3 sits 3.6 points below the national average, ranked 1,674 of 2,005 models. On one bought as 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 recorded closing bids for damaged BMW Z3s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW Z3

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 3.4% of tests (9.73x the national rate for this defect)
2. Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 2.2% of tests (7.94x the national rate for this defect)
3. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 2.9% of tests (7.03x the national rate for this defect)
4. Warning device shows system malfunction, 2.2% of tests (5.36x the national rate for this defect)
5. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 2.6% of tests (5.07x the national rate for this defect)
6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.2% of tests (3.93x 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, 2.8% of tests (2.97x the national rate for this defect)
8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 3.4% of tests (2x the national rate for this defect)
9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.9% of tests (1.84x the national rate for this defect)
10. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2% of tests (1.57x the national rate for this defect)

From 11,819 DVSA-tracked BMW Z3 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.29% of these flagged BMW Z3 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW Z3

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 Z3 before it actually fails on it.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 7.6% of tests (13.65x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 6.1% of tests (4.93x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 30.4% of tests (4.91x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. 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, 7.2% of tests (4.75x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 4.9% of tests (3.81x the national rate for this advisory)
6. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 15% of tests (2.89x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 12.4% of tests (2.23x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 6.1% of tests (2.14x the national rate for this advisory)
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 24.5% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this advisory)
10. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 7.9% of tests (1.66x the national rate for this advisory)

From 11,819 DVSA-tracked BMW Z3 tests, 2024.

BMW Z3 pass rate by model year

From its 1997 to its 2002 model year, the BMW Z3's first-time pass rate has risen 6.4 points, from 71.1% to 77.5%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW Z3 year:

• 1997 BMW Z3 - 71.1% first-time pass, 1,621 tests
• 1998 BMW Z3 - 73.4% first-time pass, 2,455 tests
• 1999 BMW Z3 - 74% first-time pass, 2,708 tests
• 2000 BMW Z3 - 74% first-time pass, 1,913 tests
• 2001 BMW Z3 - 74.7% first-time pass, 1,774 tests
• 2002 BMW Z3 - 77.5% first-time pass, 1,080 tests

Other BMW models

• BMW 3 Series - 76.8%
• BMW 118 - 81.9%
• BMW 116 - 78.6%
• BMW X1 - 85.2%
• BMW X3 - 82.3%
• BMW X5 - 81.2%
• BMW 1 Series - 81.6%
• BMW 520 - 80.2%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Citroen C4 Grand Picasso - 73.3%
• Volkswagen Crafter - 73.2%
• BMW 123 - 73.2%
• Fiat Talento - 73.1%
• Land Rover Defender - 73%
• Toyota Hilux - 73%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate