2006 · 18 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2006 BMW Z4 MOT pass rate and common faults

2,960 MOT tests in 2024. 69.4% passed first time, compared with 56.1% for all cars the same age.

124Well above average
Passed first time69.4%
Failed or needed repairs30.6%
Typical mileage at test87,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 2,960 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.4%
  2. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.1%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.7%
  4. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.9%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%
    88 marked dangerous
  6. Position lamp: not working1.9%
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.8%
  8. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.8%
  9. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.7%
  10. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Brakes14.7%
  2. Suspension14.2%
  3. Lights & electrics13.6%
  4. Emissions & leaks8.3%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.3%
  6. Tyres5.3%
  7. Body & chassis1.6%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded22.5%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.0%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.2%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.5%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure6.8%

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: rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2006 BMW Z4?

In 2024, 69.4% of 2006 BMW Z4 cars passed their MOT first time, across 2,960 tests. The average for all 18-year-old cars was 56.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2006 BMW Z4?

The most common failure reasons were rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2006 BMW Z4 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 124, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).