Verdict
The BMW X4 passes its MOT first time on 85.1% of tests, 4.7 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (80.4%). That puts it ahead of 85% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
Of its engines, the 3.0 Diesel does best (beats 88%) and the 2.0 Diesel worst (beats 83%).
Better than average on lights & electrics, visibility, suspension.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 84.2% | Beats 83% | A |
| 3.0 Diesel | 85.2% | Beats 88% | A |
| 3.0 Petrol | 90.0% | Beats 91% | A |
| 2.0 Diesel hybrid | 88.3% | Beats 72% | B |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Coil springs 1.7× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps. - Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre. - Tyre tread depth
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. - Brake pads
Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash. - Windscreen wipers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyre damage & cracking | 3.8% | 3.4% | 1.1× |
| Tyre tread depth | 2.0% | 2.3% | 0.9× |
| Coil springs | 1.9% | 1.1% | 1.7× |
| Brake pads | 1.7% | 2.1% | 0.8× |
| Windscreen wipers | 1.5% | 2.0% | 0.7× |
| Windscreen washers | 1.1% | 1.5% | 0.8× |
| Headlight aim | 1.0% | 2.0% | 0.5× |
| Engine warning light | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.8× |
| Brake lights | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.7× |
| Number plates | 0.5% | 0.2% | 2.1× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A tyre seriously damaged | 24.0 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 19.8 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 19.3 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 14.9 |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | 14.5 |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 14.0 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 11.1 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 10.2 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2022 BMW X41 engine89.5% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel hybrid | 89.5% | Beats 76% | B |
2021 BMW X41 engine88.2% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel hybrid | 88.2% | Beats 71% | B |
2020 BMW X44 engines88.6% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 Petrol | 90.3% | Beats 89% | A |
| 3.0 Diesel | 88.6% | Beats 83% | A |
| 2.0 Diesel hybrid | 87.2% | Beats 69% | B |
| 2.0 Diesel | 87.5% | Beats 75% | B |
2019 BMW X43 engines88.7% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 88.1% | Beats 89% | A |
| 3.0 Diesel | 88.9% | Beats 93% | A |
| 3.0 Petrol | 89.9% | Beats 92% | A |
2018 BMW X42 engines87.3% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 87.6% | Beats 91% | A |
| 3.0 Diesel | 86.8% | Beats 86% | A |
2017 BMW X42 engines85.0% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 84.4% | Beats 78% | B |
| 3.0 Diesel | 85.9% | Beats 86% | A |
2016 BMW X42 engines83.0% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 82.7% | Beats 79% | B |
| 3.0 Diesel | 83.5% | Beats 83% | A |
2015 BMW X42 engines81.7% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 80.8% | Beats 80% | B |
| 3.0 Diesel | 83.2% | Beats 89% | A |
2014 BMW X42 engines81.4% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 Diesel | 82.4% | Beats 94% | A |
| 2.0 Diesel | 80.2% | Beats 86% | A |
FAQ
What is the BMW X4 MOT pass rate?
85.1% of MOT tests on the BMW X4 were passed first time, based on 103,235 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2014–2022. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 80.4% of the time.
Is the BMW X4 reliable?
On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 85% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which BMW X4 engine is best?
Across all years, the 3.0 Diesel does best: it beats 88% of cars on UK roads. The 2.0 Diesel does worst: it beats 83%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the BMW X4?
The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth, coil springs. Compared with similar cars, coil springs comes up 1.7× as often.