2016 BMW 4 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 BMW 4 Series passed 88.3% of its 104,730 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail at 10.8%, so the 2016 4 Series sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.1% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 2,743 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.9% in the 0-30k band and 15.9% in the 150k+ band, a 9.0-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 10.7% of the time against 12.0% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.1% | 7,453 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 2,524 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.0% | 2,076 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 1,807 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 1,397 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 848 |
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 | 2,743 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,585 |
| 3 | Washers | 1,411 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,363 |
| 5 | Attachment | 840 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 795 |
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 | 21.9% | 22,990 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 14,481 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.0% | 9,478 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.7% | 4,965 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 3,109 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 2,748 |
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 | 9,264 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 41,835 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 34,352 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 13,904 | 14.7% |
| 120-150k | 4,124 | 15.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,245 | 15.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 79,735 | 12.0% |
| Petrol | 24,995 | 10.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,205 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 20,996 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 21,112 | 12.2% |
| 2024 | 20,841 | 12.6% |
| 2025 | 20,576 | 12.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 4 Series
On a 2016 4 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.1% 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 (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.0% 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 2016 BMW 4 Seriess pass their MOT?
88.3% of the 104,730 2016 BMW 4 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 BMW 4 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.4%).
Does the 2016 4 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 15.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 104,730 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.