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BMW Z4 body and structure problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 11,911 MOT tests · Updated

At 18 years, 1.9 in 100 MOT tests of the BMW Z4 failed on body and structure, against 8.7 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 11,911 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.2× (0.19–0.25×)) (all test years), 223 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 19 ages from 3 to 22 years, 136,524 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 18 years: 11,911 for the BMW Z4

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

1.9 fails per 100 MOT tests at 18 years, against 8.7 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 18 (all test years). The BMW Z4 fails less often here.

Why it matters

A body and structure fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

BMW Z4 body and structure fails by age

BMW Z4 body and structure fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the BMW Z4. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.05103 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 5,735 MOT tests35 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 3,717 MOT tests6 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 3,410 MOT tests67 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 1.3), 3,023 MOT tests8 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 4,963 MOT tests89 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 2.3), 6,450 MOT tests10 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 7,093 MOT tests1011 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 3.5), 7,438 MOT tests12 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 7,527 MOT tests1213 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 5.0), 8,469 MOT tests14 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 5.9), 8,494 MOT tests1415 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 6.7), 9,829 MOT tests16 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 7.6), 10,966 MOT tests1617 years: 2.0 per 100 (all cars 8.3), 10,611 MOT tests18 years: 1.9 per 100 (all cars 8.7), 11,911 MOT tests1819 years: 1.9 per 100 (all cars 9.0), 11,215 MOT tests20 years: 2.1 per 100 (all cars 9.2), 7,828 MOT tests2021 years: 2.5 per 100 (all cars 9.3), 5,469 MOT tests22 years: 2.0 per 100 (all cars 9.4), 2,376 MOT tests22
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. BMW Z4 All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
35,7350.00.3
53,7170.10.5
63,4100.10.8
73,0230.01.3
84,9630.11.8
96,4500.02.3
107,0930.12.9
117,4380.23.5
127,5270.14.3
138,4690.35.0
148,4940.65.9
159,8291.06.7
1610,9661.47.6
1710,6112.08.3
1811,9111.98.7
19*11,2151.99.0
20*7,8282.19.2
21*5,4692.59.3
22*2,3762.09.4

All first-use years of the BMW Z4 pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the body and structure at 18 years

Advisories (not fails)

Replace leaking exhaust section cost

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 2.0 petrol: 2.4 per 100 at 18 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 3,170 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases.

Check one BMW Z4, not the average

The figures here describe BMW Z4 cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

  • Check a BMW Z4's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
  • MOT advisory checker Paste an advisory or defect to read DVSA's wording, its grade and what tends to happen at the next MOT.

Other BMW Z4 problems

Body and structure on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the BMW Z4 have more body and structure problems than other cars?

0.19 to 0.25 times the body and structure fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 18 years (all test years), from 11,911 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 4 of the 19 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are BMW Z4 body and structure problems?

1.9 in 100 MOT tests at 18 years failed on body and structure, against 8.7 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 11,911 MOT tests).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 141,225 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare