BMW Z3
From 27,461 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Z3s fare better: 2003 models pass at 79.8% vs 70.7% for 1997.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded and emissions levels exceed default limits. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 1,146 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 1,146 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 772 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 761 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 594 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 588 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 551 |
| an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction | 547 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 506 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 486 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 468 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 47% of failures are serious: 38.4% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 8.6% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £141.
BMW Z3 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 539 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 8 newly registered, a net loss of 531. At this rate, roughly 29.1 years until none remain. Now at 71.6% of its peak (21,624 in 2003 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 8,425 | 7,059 | +0 | -80 | -80 |
| 2025 Q2 | 8,690 | 6,874 | +1 | -32 | -31 |
| 2025 Q1 | 6,986 | 8,609 | +3 | -103 | -100 |
| 2024 Q4 | 6,991 | 8,704 | +4 | -324 | -320 |
| 2024 Q3 | 8,873 | 7,142 | +5 | -8 | -3 |
| 2024 Q2 | 9,134 | 6,884 | +0 | -0 | +559 |
| 2024 Q1 | 7,746 | 7,713 | +5 | -889 | -884 |
| 2023 Q4 | 7,656 | 8,687 | +2 | -190 | -188 |
7 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Z3 | Petrol | 6,077 | 72% |
| Z3 Roadster | Petrol | 781 | 9% |
| Z3 Auto | Petrol | 616 | 7% |
| Z3 Sport Roadster | Petrol | 568 | 7% |
| Z3 Roadster Auto | Petrol | 153 | 2% |
| Z3 Sport Roadster Auto | Petrol | 131 | 2% |
| Z3 Sport Roadster Edition | Petrol | 84 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 79.8% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2002 | 78.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2001 | 72.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2000 | 76.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
3 earlier years
| 1999 | 74.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1998 | 74.5% | emissions levels exceed default limits, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1997 | 70.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, emissions levels exceed default limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all Z3s tested had between 60,752 and 109,659 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 86,433 median miles, the Z3 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 Z3 MOT pass rate?
The BMW Z3 has a 74.2% MOT pass rate based on 27,461 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW Z3?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW Z3 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 1,146 failures. Other common issues include brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded.
How many BMW Z3s are on UK roads?
There are 8,425 BMW Z3s currently licensed on UK roads, with 7,059 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW Z3 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW Z3 is 86,433 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 60,752 and 109,659 miles.
Buying a used Z3?
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.
With a 74.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £141 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.