Verdict
The BMW Z3 passes its MOT first time on 65.7% of tests, 5.1 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (60.6%). That puts it ahead of 69% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 1999 Z3 does best (beats 72% of cars) and the 1998 worst (beats 62%).
Of its engines, the 2.8 Petrol does best (beats 77%) and the 1.9 Petrol worst (beats 54%).
Better than average on lights & electrics, tyres, body & structure.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 Petrol | 61.1% | Beats 54% | C |
| 2.8 Petrol | 68.8% | Beats 77% | B |
| 2.2 Petrol | 69.4% | Beats 86% | A |
| 2.0 Petrol | 65.2% | Beats 69% | B |
| 3.0 Petrol | 72.4% | Beats 92% | A |
| 3.2 Petrol | 78.6% | Beats 98% | A |
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
- Suspension ball joints 1.9× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering. - Coil springs 1.7× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps. - Exhaust emissions (catalyst)
Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems. - Windscreen washers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Sidelights
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid. - 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exhaust emissions (catalyst) | 6.0% | 4.3% | 1.4× |
| Windscreen washers | 4.0% | 3.2% | 1.3× |
| Sidelights | 3.7% | 3.9% | 1.0× |
| Headlight aim | 3.5% | 4.7% | 0.8× |
| Brake pipes | 3.5% | 2.5% | 1.4× |
| Airbag warning light | 3.4% | 1.0% | 3.4× |
| Suspension ball joints | 3.0% | 1.5% | 1.9× |
| Coil springs | 2.8% | 1.7% | 1.7× |
| Handbrake performance | 2.6% | 2.7% | 1.0× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 2.5% | 2.9% | 0.9× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 52.9 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 39.7 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 35.1 |
| An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction | 34.2 |
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 32.0 |
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 30.8 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 28.9 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 27.7 |
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.
2002 BMW Z33 engines69.2% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 Petrol | 70.7% | Beats 90% | A |
| 1.9 Petrol | 64.0% | Beats 72% | B |
| 3.0 Petrol | 73.4% | Beats 94% | A |
2001 BMW Z33 engines67.7% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 Petrol | 68.5% | Beats 83% | A |
| 1.9 Petrol | 64.5% | Beats 73% | B |
| 3.0 Petrol | 71.8% | Beats 91% | A |
2000 BMW Z35 engines65.9% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 64.2% | Beats 67% | B |
| 1.9 Petrol | 61.7% | Beats 62% | B |
| 2.8 Petrol | 67.4% | Beats 77% | B |
| 3.0 Petrol | 72.5% | Beats 90% | A |
| 3.2 Petrol | 78.8% | Beats 98% | A |
1999 BMW Z34 engines66.4% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 Petrol | 61.0% | Beats 56% | C |
| 2.8 Petrol | 70.1% | Beats 82% | A |
| 2.0 Petrol | 66.5% | Beats 71% | B |
| 3.2 Petrol | 78.7% | Beats 98% | A |
1998 BMW Z33 engines64.8% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 Petrol | 59.8% | Beats 43% | C |
| 2.8 Petrol | 69.8% | Beats 79% | B |
| 3.2 Petrol | 78.3% | Beats 97% | A |
1997 BMW Z32 engines61.8% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 Petrol | 60.0% | Beats 40% | C |
| 2.8 Petrol | 66.0% | Beats 64% | B |
FAQ
What is the BMW Z3 MOT pass rate?
65.7% of MOT tests on the BMW Z3 were passed first time, based on 113,486 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1997–2002. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 60.6% of the time.
Is the BMW Z3 reliable?
On MOT results it rates B (good): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 69% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which BMW Z3 year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 1999 Z3 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 72% of cars on UK roads. The 1998 does worst: it beats 62%.
Which BMW Z3 engine is best?
Across all years, the 2.8 Petrol does best: it beats 77% of cars on UK roads. The 1.9 Petrol does worst: it beats 54%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the BMW Z3?
The most common failure items are exhaust emissions (catalyst), windscreen washers, sidelights. Compared with similar cars, airbag warning light comes up 3.4× as often.