BMW M4 Competition M MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 3 model years and 1,812 tests, the BMW M4 Competition M passes its MOT 94.6% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (8.2% fail rate), the M4 Competition M comes out 2.8pp better. Its most common failure areas are tyres, other defects and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 3.9% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of other defects, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, tread depth and headlamp aim — registration plates alone was recorded 23 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 13.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every M4 Competition M model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 588 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 1,162 | 95.3% | 4.7% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 62 | 96.8% | 3.2% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 71 |
| 2 | Other defects | 0.9% | 16 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 14 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.3% | 6 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 4 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.2% | 4 |
| 7 | Steering | 0.2% | 3 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 23 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 14 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 5 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 4 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 4 |
| 7 | Wipers | 3 |
| 8 | Washers | 3 |
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 | 13.0% | 236 |
| 2 | Other defects | 3.5% | 64 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.6% | 28 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 13 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 7 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 4 |
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 | 1,473 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 330 | 5.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 351 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 1,456 | 4.7% |
What to check before buying a BMW M4 Competition M
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
- Other defects (0.9% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- Lighting & signalling (0.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW M4 Competition M?
94.6% of the 1,812 BMW M4 Competition M MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 5.4% fail rate, across model years 2021–2023.
What does the BMW M4 Competition M most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, then other defects (0.9%).
Methodology & source. Based on 1,812 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.