BMW 4 Series years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

111,597 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2013–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

No BMW 4 Series year has an MOT pass rate clearly below the average for vehicles first used in the same year. Above it: 2013–2019 and 2021. The other 2 years can't be told apart from average.

Below the average for their first-use yearNone
Above the average for their first-use year2013–2019 and 2021
Can't be told apart from average2020 and 2022

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

83.5%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 83.3% to 83.7%.

BMW 4 Series, all years83.5%
Same-age average, all vehicles77.9%

In 2025, 83.5% of the 111,597 initial MOT tests on BMW 4 Series cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 77.9%. That is 5.7 points above the same-age average.

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Its own MOT history, free.

BMW 4 Series MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3	7,48823,800	88.7%±0.8	+0.2 ptsall: 88.5%
2021age 4	6,91130,700	88.2%±0.8	+1.0 ptsall: 87.2%
2020age 5	4,56637,500	86.8%±1.1	+0.8 ptsall: 86.0%
2019age 6	10,20447,100	85.0%±0.8	+1.5 ptsall: 83.5%
2018age 7	15,50455,600	85.2%±0.6	+4.3 ptsall: 80.9%
2017age 8	17,08767,100	84.4%±0.6	+6.2 ptsall: 78.2%
2016age 9	18,14577,600	83.3%±0.6	+8.4 ptsall: 74.9%
2015age 10	17,90084,800	80.3%±0.6	+8.4 ptsall: 71.9%
2014age 11	12,27789,400	77.6%±0.8	+9.0 ptsall: 68.6%
2013age 12	1,51597,100	77.0%±2.2	+11.2 ptsall: 65.8%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common 4 Series problems at the MOT

Share of the 18,389 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Tyres49.2%
Lights and electrics19.3%
Suspension15.8%
Brakes13.9%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors11.7%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a 4 Series

Based on the areas where BMW 4 Series MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Tyres
In 49.2% of failed 4 Series tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.
Lights and electrics
In 19.3% of failed 4 Series tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Suspension
In 15.8% of failed 4 Series tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Brakes
In 13.9% of failed 4 Series tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a 4 Series's MOT history

BMW 4 Series questions

Which BMW 4 Series years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, no model year is clearly below average. Above average: 2013–2019 and 2021. The rest can't be told apart from average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the BMW 4 Series reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 83.5% of initial MOT tests on BMW 4 Series cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 77.9%. That is 5.7 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common BMW 4 Series problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are tyres (in 49.2% of failed tests), lights and electrics (in 19.3% of failed tests) and suspension (in 15.8% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 10-year-old BMW 4 Series?

At their 2025 MOT tests, BMW 4 Series cars first used in 2015, about 10 years old, had a median of 84,800 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific 4 Series's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any BMW 4 Series

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other BMW models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 22 BMW models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all BMW 4 Series cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count