BMW
Z3
30,469 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where Z3s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 4.3 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
73.2%
Pass-after-fix
4.6%
Fail
20.9%
Avg miles
87,390
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
BMW Z3: mixed MOT record across 15,351 tests
The BMW Z3 is a range of two-seater sports cars which was produced from 1995 to 2002. The body styles of the range are:2-door roadster 2-door coupé
MOT data from 15,351 tests puts this car on a 72.5% first-time pass rate, below the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 86,912 miles. The most common fail item is brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, followed by headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective.
Buyers weighing up a used Z3 should treat the failure breakdown as a pre-purchase checklist. The pass rate is reasonable, but the gap between first attempt and a clean sheet narrows with age and mileage.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 24–38
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. 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 →
24–38
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
932 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
- 02
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
841 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 03
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
720 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 04
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
588 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 05
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
579 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 06
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
576 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 07
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
569 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 08
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
498 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 09
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
497 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 10
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
487 occurrences · 1.6% 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
£130–£410
If every one of this Z3'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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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.
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Parts & supplies for this fix
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Buying or keeping a Z3?
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 Z3 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.