BMW M4 Competition MOT pass rate & common failures
The BMW M4 Competition appears in 1,816 MOT tests spanning model years 2016–2023, and 93.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 8.5% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are tyres, other defects and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 4.7% of all tests — 3.5 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 38 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 14.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2023 against 6.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every M4 Competition model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,396 | 93.4% | 6.6% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 405 | 92.8% | 7.2% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 85 |
| 2 | Other defects | 1.2% | 22 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 16 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 12 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.2% | 4 |
| 7 | Brakes | 0.2% | 3 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 3 |
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 | 38 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 37 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 4 | Side repeaters | 10 |
| 5 | Washers | 7 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 3 |
| 7 | Catalyst emissions | 3 |
| 8 | Wipers | 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 | 14.4% | 262 |
| 2 | Other defects | 2.6% | 48 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.3% | 24 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 19 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.4% | 7 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 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 | 1,388 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 403 | 9.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 45 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 686 | 6.7% |
| 2025 | 1,085 | 6.9% |
What to check before buying a BMW M4 Competition
- Tyres (4.7% 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 (1.2% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- Lighting & signalling (0.9% 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?
93.3% of the 1,816 BMW M4 Competition MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 6.7% fail rate, across model years 2016–2023.
What does the BMW M4 Competition most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, then other defects (1.2%).
Methodology & source. Based on 1,816 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.