2013 BMW 4 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
9,180 MOT tests on the 2013 BMW 4 Series are in this dataset, and 85.2% of them passed. That is effectively the same as coupes & convertibles of a similar age (14.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.9%) and lighting & signalling (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, shock absorbers and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 294 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.1% versus 7.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.0% fail against 15.8% for diesel, a 2.8-point gap across 9,180 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.9% | 637 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 372 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.5% | 323 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.4% | 312 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 227 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 83 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 294 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 222 |
| 3 | Washers | 178 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 166 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 142 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 111 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.3% | 2,232 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.7% | 1,713 |
| 3 | Other defects | 11.7% | 1,077 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.8% | 811 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 398 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 218 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 281 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,795 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,228 | 14.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,483 | 16.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,024 | 18.8% |
| 150k+ | 367 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,854 | 15.8% |
| Petrol | 3,326 | 13.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,823 | 11.6% |
| 2022 | 1,871 | 14.6% |
| 2023 | 1,844 | 14.6% |
| 2024 | 1,836 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 1,806 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 4 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2013 BMW 4 Seriess pass their MOT?
85.2% of the 9,180 2013 BMW 4 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 BMW 4 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.0%).
Does the 2013 4 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,180 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.