BMW
3,248 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where 4 Seriess pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 9.2 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
86.7%
Pass-after-fix
1.9%
Fail
11.3%
Avg miles
79,763
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 3,242 tests
Pass rate climbs 8.9 points across the cohorts — newer 4 Series examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
85.9%
Fail
11.9%
PRS
2.0%
Avg mileage at test
85,112 mi
Pass
94.8%
Fail
4.9%
PRS
0.3%
Avg mileage at test
25,679 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 1,461 MOT tests, the 4 Series returns 83.1% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a tyre with the cords showing. Tyre tread under the limit and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 73,625, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
A high-group car — insurance costs will be significantly above average. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
28–44
out of 50
Filter failures:
Hide categories
Tick a category to hide it from rankings sitewide. Saved in this browser only.
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
69 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
58 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
55 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
38 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
33 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
26 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
24 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Wiper blade defective
21 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
21 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber
14 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£120–£190
If every one of this 4 Series's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 8.9-point gap between bands means the year you buy BMW 4 Series has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
94.8%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 94.8% — a 8.9-point improvement. Tests in this band average 25,679 miles — roughly 59K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has a cut in excess of the… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.
Band to be cautious about
85.9%
Pre-2018 registration
On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 85.9% pass rate against a fleet average of 94.8% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has ply or cords exposed, and tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Average mileage on test for this band is 85,112 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (94.8% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (85.9% pass). That's a 8.9-point spread across 2,956 older tests and 286 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Summit
Summit ADRG-640 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£10.99
View at My Motor World →
Summit
Summit ADRG-904 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
£10.99
View at My Motor World →
Summit
Summit ADRG-905 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£10.99
View at My Motor World →
Draper Expert
Draper Expert Oil Filter Socket for Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and VW
£18.69
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Recall history
The 4 Series has 20 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 4 Series and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
