2008 · 16 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2008 BMW Z4 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,793 MOT tests in 2024. 70.1% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

123Well above average
Passed first time70.1%
Failed or needed repairs29.9%
Typical mileage at test79,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,793 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction4.0%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.5%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.0%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.7%
    51 marked dangerous
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.6%
    35 marked dangerous
  7. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.5%
  8. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.5%
  9. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.5%
  10. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.3%
    36 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics12.5%
  2. Suspension11.2%
  3. Brakes10.3%
  4. Emissions & leaks8.5%
  5. Tyres5.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.7%
  7. Body & chassis1.7%
  8. Steering1.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.6%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.3%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.0%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure6.7%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.7%

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

← 2007 Z4All Z4 years2009 Z4 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 BMW Z4?

In 2024, 70.1% of 2008 BMW Z4 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,793 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 BMW Z4?

The most common failure reasons were malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2008 BMW Z4 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 123, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).