2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 BMW Z4 MOT pass rate and common faults

3,057 MOT tests in 2024. 68.9% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

122Well above average
Passed first time68.9%
Failed or needed repairs31.1%
Typical mileage at test94,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,057 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault4.0%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.6%
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.3%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.3%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
    95 marked dangerous
  6. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.9%
  7. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.8%
  8. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.8%
  9. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.7%
  10. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Brakes14.3%
  2. Lights & electrics13.8%
  3. Suspension13.7%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.2%
  5. Emissions & leaks5.9%
  6. Seat belts & airbags5.1%
  7. Tyres4.9%
  8. Body & chassis2.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded21.2%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.1%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.0%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.3%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.3%

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.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 BMW Z4?

In 2024, 68.9% of 2004 BMW Z4 cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,057 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 BMW Z4?

The most common failure reasons were srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2004 BMW Z4 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 122, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).