Reliability report
BMW 4 Series reliability and common faults
Based on 46,784 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
13.9%
fail rate · average 16.1%
much better than average
41,076 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
28.7%
with defects · average 34.9%
much better than average
3,510 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
62.7%
first-time pass · average 72.1%
much worse than average
2,198 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the BMW 4 Series
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Wheelsconfirmed in 2 countries
Plates and identification
Tyres
Brakes
Exhaust and emissions
Visibility
Lights and electrics
Suspension
Seat belts and airbags
Steering
Body and structure
Driving controls
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 4Tyre insufficient tread
- 5Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 6Tyre damaged
- 7Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 8Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 9Tyre pressure monitoring system warning indicator is on
- 10Brake lining carrier/fastener touching drum/disc
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 11.8% avg 9.9% | 20.1% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 13.6% avg 15.3% | 35.3% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 15.8% avg 22.9% | 38.5% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 23.6% avg 30.3% | 32.6% avg 55.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | 4 Series | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 64.9% | 83.2% | 77 |
| 2018 | 64.2% | 79.5% | 165 |
| 2017 | 59.3% | 76.6% | 182 |
| 2016 | 64.2% | 72.8% | 427 |
| 2015 | 60.3% | 71.1% | 731 |
| 2014 | 64.8% | 68.0% | 573 |
| 2013 | 66.7% | 65.9% | 33 |
BMW 4 Series – FAQs
How reliable is the BMW 4 Series?+
In the UK the BMW 4 Series fails 13.9% of MOT tests, against an average of 16.1% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 28.7% of APK inspections (average there 34.9%) – much better than average. In Lithuania 62.7% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 72.1%) – much worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the BMW 4 Series?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: wheels, tyres.
What should I check when buying a used BMW 4 Series?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Tyre insufficient tread; Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More BMW models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).