The picture
X4 M Competition Auto: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 600 MOT tests, the X4 M Competition Auto returns 90.8% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. A tyre with the cords showing and a seriously damaged tyre round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 26,997, 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.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
17 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 02
A tyre cords visible or damaged
15 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 03
A tyre seriously damaged
13 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 04
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
8 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 05
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
7 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 06
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
4 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 07
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
4 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 08
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
3 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 09
Parking brake control missing, defective or inoperative
2 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 10
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
2 occurrences · 0.3% 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 3 failures
£135–£225
If every one of this X4 M Competition Auto'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 →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
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.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a X4 M Competition Auto?
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 X4 M Competition Auto 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.