Sports car and convertible · 1998–2021 cars

BMW Z4 reliability

The BMW Z4 fails 22.2% of first MOT tests, 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 123,418 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 80/100#34 of 62 sports car and convertibles

Checking a BMW Z4 before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 22.2%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 33% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 123,418; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 5,500; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the BMW Z4 ages

Each point is the share of BMW Z4s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

BMW Z4All cars

BMW Z4 first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	BMW Z4	All cars
3	8.6%	12.3%
4	8.4%	14.1%
5	10%	16.4%
6	14.8%	19.1%
7	14.4%	22.1%
8	15.1%	25.5%
9	16.7%	28.8%
10	16.4%	31.8%
11	17%	34.6%
12	17.6%	37.3%
13	20.6%	39.5%
14	22.4%	41.1%
15	26.7%	42.3%
16	28.4%	42.9%
17	28.8%	43.4%
18	30.3%	43.5%
19	31.7%	43.4%
20	30.2%	42.8%
21	31.2%	41.4%

By year

The best and worst BMW Z4 years

2009 cars come out best and 2016 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

BMW Z4 MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	648	5.4%	45% fewer fails	17,511
2020 Z4	3,053	7.6%	27% fewer fails	19,342
2019 Z4	5,999	8.8%	23% fewer fails	21,446
2017	532	15.4%	1% more fails	31,388
2016 Z4	4,566	15.5%	8% fewer fails	33,712
2015 Z4	6,093	13.5%	33% fewer fails	41,354
2014 Z4	7,162	15.4%	33% fewer fails	46,583
2013 Z4	6,040	16.4%	37% fewer fails	52,433
2012 Z4	7,163	17.5%	40% fewer fails	59,157
2011 Z4	7,338	17.6%	44% fewer fails	60,175
2010 Z4	7,168	19.3%	43% fewer fails	65,570
2009 Z4	9,373	18.6%	48% fewer fails	69,602
2008 Z4	6,596	27.7%	28% fewer fails	77,080
2007 Z4	11,353	25.7%	36% fewer fails	82,352
2006 Z4	11,305	28.3%	31% fewer fails	85,908
2005 Z4	7,853	32.7%	23% fewer fails	91,429
2004 Z4	11,578	31.2%	26% fewer fails	92,961
2003 Z4	9,586	31.8%	25% fewer fails	96,149

Common problems

What fails most on a BMW Z4

Its weak spot is wheels: 294% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Suspension6.3%46% below avg
Lights and electrics6.1%58% below avg
Tyres5.5%7% below avg
Brakes5.3%37% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.9%31% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.9%31% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.5%3% above avg
Wheels1.4%294% above avg
Body, chassis and structure0.9%82% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 1.59% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
2
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.59% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.51% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Coil spring fractured or broken 1.48% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.36% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
6
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 1.29% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
7
Airbag warning lamp shows fault 1.21% of tests
A lit airbag warning means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs diagnosing and repairing.
8
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 1.06% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a BMW Z4's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit10.39%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy7.04%
Brake disc pitted or scored6.65%
Engine oil leak, not excessive5.14%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.97%
Brake pads wearing thin3.91%

Before you buy

What to check on a used BMW Z4

1
Engine warning light inoperative or lit
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
2
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical BMW Z4 covers about 5,500 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol99.9%
Diesel0.1%
Electric0%
LPG0%

Most common colours

Black, Grey, Blue, White, Silver

Average engine size: 2.4 litres.

Compare

How the BMW Z4 compares with its rivals

BMW Z4 against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Porsche 911	10.4%	62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Porsche Cayman	9.8%	60% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jaguar F-Type	7.8%	52% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz SL	15.3%	51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Porsche Boxster	16.4%	48% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW Z4	22.2%	33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz SLK	25.9%	21% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all BMW models.

Questions

BMW Z4 questions, answered

Is the BMW Z4 reliable?

On MOT results, the BMW Z4 is better than average: it fails 22.2% of first MOT tests, 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 34 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.

What fails most on a BMW Z4 MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the BMW Z4 are engine warning light inoperative or lit (1.59% of tests), tyre ply or cords exposed (1.59% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.51% of tests). By area, suspension fails 6.3% of its tests.

Which BMW Z4 year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2009 cars do best (48% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2016 cars do worst (8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a BMW Z4 do a year?

A typical BMW Z4 covers about 5,500 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a BMW Z4 before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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