BMW M4
From 34,740 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, a tyre cords visible or damaged, caused 878 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 878 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 471 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 465 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 196 |
| number plate does not conform to the specified requirements | 171 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 114 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 108 |
| windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 59 |
| a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud | 53 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 48 |
BMW M4 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 1,324 newly registered in the past year with 283 leaving, a net gain of 1,041. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 19,411 | 941 | +328 | -114 | +214 |
| 2025 Q2 | 19,234 | 904 | +310 | -68 | +242 |
| 2025 Q1 | 18,865 | 1,031 | +428 | -16 | +412 |
| 2024 Q4 | 18,476 | 1,008 | +258 | -85 | +173 |
| 2024 Q3 | 18,534 | 777 | +323 | -139 | +184 |
| 2024 Q2 | 18,400 | 727 | +385 | -0 | +441 |
| 2024 Q1 | 17,925 | 761 | +405 | -41 | +364 |
| 2023 Q4 | 17,486 | 836 | +368 | -106 | +262 |
10 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4 Competition Package S-A | Petrol | 5,738 | 30% |
| M440I Xdrive Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 4,353 | 23% |
| M4 S-A | Petrol | 3,959 | 20% |
| M4 Competition M Xdrive Auto | Petrol | 2,988 | 15% |
| M4 Competition Auto | Petrol | 1,069 | 6% |
| M440D Xdrive Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Diesel) | 734 | 4% |
| M4 | Petrol | 211 | 1% |
| M4 Cs S-A | Petrol | 150 | <1% |
| M4 Heritage Edition S-A | Petrol | 62 | <1% |
| M4 Competition Package | Petrol | 58 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 91.7% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2019 | 93.4% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 91.8% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2017 | 89.4% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
3 earlier years
| 2016 | 91% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2015 | 92.6% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2014 | 90.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all M4s tested had between 26,418 and 45,510 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 28,713 median miles, the M4 has 0.03 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
Common questions
What is the BMW M4 MOT pass rate?
The BMW M4 has a 91.5% MOT pass rate based on 34,740 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW M4?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW M4 is a tyre cords visible or damaged, which caused 878 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many BMW M4s are on UK roads?
There are 19,411 BMW M4s currently licensed on UK roads, with 941 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW M4 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW M4 is 28,713 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 26,418 and 45,510 miles.
Buying a used M4?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.