2014 BMW 4 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
73,613 MOT tests on the 2014 BMW 4 Series are in this dataset, and 85.4% of them passed. That is 1.4 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 13.2%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.4% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, shock absorbers and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 2,260 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.1% versus 7.7%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (15.3% vs 13.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.4% | 5,467 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 3,035 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.4% | 2,475 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.8% | 2,061 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 1,629 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 636 |
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 | 2,260 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 1,978 |
| 3 | Washers | 1,323 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,282 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,144 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 942 |
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 | 23.6% | 17,375 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.3% | 12,751 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.6% | 7,061 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.1% | 5,965 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 2,323 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 1,415 |
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 | 2,976 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 19,334 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 27,662 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 16,295 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 5,448 | 18.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,885 | 19.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 51,774 | 15.3% |
| Petrol | 21,839 | 13.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,891 | 12.7% |
| 2022 | 14,769 | 13.5% |
| 2023 | 14,806 | 14.8% |
| 2024 | 14,691 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 14,456 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a 2014 4 Series
On a 2014 4 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.4% 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 (4.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2014 BMW 4 Seriess pass their MOT?
85.4% of the 73,613 2014 BMW 4 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 BMW 4 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.1%).
Does the 2014 4 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 19.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 73,613 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.