2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 BMW Z4 MOT pass rate and common faults

2,494 MOT tests in 2024. 67.7% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

118Well above average
Passed first time67.7%
Failed or needed repairs32.3%
Typical mileage at test97,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 2,494 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault4.4%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.2%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
    119 marked dangerous
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.8%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%
  6. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.1%
  7. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.1%
  8. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.0%
  9. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.8%
  10. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Brakes15.8%
  2. Suspension14.7%
  3. Lights & electrics14.5%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.4%
  5. Tyres5.7%
  6. Seat belts & airbags5.6%
  7. Emissions & leaks4.6%
  8. Body & chassis2.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded23.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.6%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine12.3%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.9%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.7%

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: srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All Z4 years2004 Z4 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 BMW Z4?

In 2024, 67.7% of 2003 BMW Z4 cars passed their MOT first time, across 2,494 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 BMW Z4?

The most common failure reasons were srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2003 BMW Z4 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 118, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).