2017 BMW 4 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 98,064 MOT tests, the 2017 BMW 4 Series recorded an 89.3% pass rate. That is effectively the same as coupes & convertibles of a similar age (9.8% 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
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.0% of tests against 1.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 2,385 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 17.1% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.8% of the time against 11.1% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.0% | 6,864 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 1,711 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 1,671 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 1,411 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 1,005 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 802 |
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 | 2,385 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,334 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,281 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,038 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 688 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 537 |
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 | 21.0% | 20,581 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 12,157 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.1% | 6,993 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.7% | 3,659 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 2,810 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 1,389 |
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 | 17,427 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 46,124 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 25,445 | 13.1% |
| 90-120k | 7,174 | 14.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,523 | 14.4% |
| 150k+ | 369 | 17.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 70,150 | 11.1% |
| Petrol | 27,914 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,082 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 19,651 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 19,540 | 10.9% |
| 2024 | 19,601 | 12.1% |
| 2025 | 19,190 | 12.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 4 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.0% 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 (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.7% 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 2017 BMW 4 Seriess pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 98,064 2017 BMW 4 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 BMW 4 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.7%).
Does the 2017 4 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 17.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 98,064 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.