2018 · 6 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2018 BMW 4 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

15,572 MOT tests in 2024. 85.5% passed first time, compared with 82.5% for all cars the same age.

104Above average
Passed first time85.5%
Failed or needed repairs14.5%
Typical mileage at test48,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 15,572 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.6%
    626 marked dangerous
  2. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.0%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.9%
    419 marked dangerous
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%
    513 marked dangerous
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.2%
    270 marked dangerous
  6. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.6%
  7. Road Wheels - condition: fractured0.5%
    116 marked dangerous
  8. Headlamp aim: too high0.5%
  9. Horn: not working0.4%
  10. Tyres - condition: has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.4%
    84 marked dangerous

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Tyres9.8%
  2. Lights & electrics2.3%
  3. Brakes2.2%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.4%
  5. Wheels1.0%
  6. Suspension0.8%
  7. Emissions & leaks0.7%
  8. Number plates & VIN0.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.9%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.9%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened4.7%
  4. Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm2.5%
  5. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.1%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2017 4 SeriesAll 4 Series years2019 4 Series →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2018 BMW 4 Series?

In 2024, 85.5% of 2018 BMW 4 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 15,572 tests. The average for all 6-year-old cars was 82.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2018 BMW 4 Series?

The most common failure reasons were tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed; tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords; tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2018 BMW 4 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 104, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).