MOT fail rates by first-use year

2000 BMW Z3 MOT fail rate and common faults

How BMW Z3 cars first used in 2000 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 7,935 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026

At 25 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 25 (n=1,859)29.5%

All cars at 25 years (n=313,355)36.3%

Difference−6.8 pts

MOT tests of 2000 cars, 2022 to 20257,935

What stands out

In 2025, at 25 years old, BMW Z3 cars first used in 2000 failed 29.5% of MOTs (1,859 tests), 6.8 points below the 36.3% for all cars that age.
From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 22 to 25 years old, the fail rate moved from 31.9% to 29.5%.
BMW Z3 cars first used a year earlier, in 1999, failed 30.2% at the same age of 25 years (2,736 tests, in 2024).
The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the BMW Z3 at 25 years, is airbag (SRS) warning light on, at 3.6 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.9).

MOT fail rate by test year

BMW Z3 cars first used in 2000: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test year	Age	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars	Difference
2022	22 years	31.9%	2,117	41.0%	−9.1 pts
2023	23 years	30.3%	2,029	39.6%	−9.3 pts
2024	24 years	30.7%	1,930	37.8%	−7.1 pts
2025	25 years	29.5%	1,859	36.3%	−6.8 pts

Most common faults at 25 years

These figures cover all BMW Z3 MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,236). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail item	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Airbag (SRS) warning light on	3.6	0.9
Side/position light not working Wear	3.1	3.4
Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits	2.9	2.2
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits	2.9	1.7
Coil spring broken	2.8	1.2
Suspension ball joint worn	2.5	1.4
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded	2.5	1.9
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear	2.5	1.8
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits	2.2	0.9
Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	2.2	1.0

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=9,236). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

Advisory	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material	19.8	14.1
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive	10.4	14.9
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear	9.4	10.1
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened	9.1	8.6
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear	8.9	9.1
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement	6.3	4.9
Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated	5.8	2.6
Suspension ball joint: slight play	5.2	2.8
Coil spring: corroded	5.1	6.4
Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened	5.0	2.5

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=9,236). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 25 years

These figures cover all BMW Z3 MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,236). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Fuel	Share of tests	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars, same fuel	Median mileage
Petrol	100.0%	32.4%	9,228	35.2%	86,000 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 25 years

These figures cover all BMW Z3 MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,236). At 25 years, BMW Z3 cars at 120,000 to 150,000 miles failed more often (42.4%, n=1,221) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (19.9%, n=1,635). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
30,000 to 60,000 miles	19.9%	1,635	29.8%
60,000 to 90,000 miles	31.8%	2,861	35.4%
90,000 to 120,000 miles	38.7%	2,512	38.4%
120,000 to 150,000 miles	42.4%	1,221	40.2%

Car tax rules for a 2000 car

Cars first registered before 1 March 2001 are taxed by engine size: one annual rate for engines up to 1,549cc and a higher rate above that.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

Petrol cars first registered before 2001 usually do not meet Euro 4, so they usually pay the ULEZ daily charge.
The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the BMW Z3

1999 BMW Z3 2001 BMW Z3

Other BMW models first used in 2000

Model	Age at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
BMW 3 Series (2000)	25 years in 2025	33.2%	2,437	36.3%
BMW 5 Series (2000)	24 years in 2024	35.1%	1,137	37.8%

More on the BMW Z3

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2000 BMW Z3 cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.