2015 BMW X4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 BMW X4 passed 85.2% of its 12,131 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (15.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.5%) and suspension (5.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 594 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.3% versus 10.9%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 663 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.2% | 632 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 453 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 336 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.6% | 319 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 121 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 594 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 363 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 267 |
| 4 | Wipers | 217 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 197 |
| 6 | Washers | 175 |
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 | 22.4% | 2,712 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 1,705 |
| 3 | Other defects | 13.4% | 1,624 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.9% | 711 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 394 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 261 |
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 | 384 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,702 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 5,081 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,247 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 557 | 17.8% |
| 150k+ | 160 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,450 | 13.8% |
| 2022 | 2,438 | 14.2% |
| 2023 | 2,425 | 15.1% |
| 2024 | 2,397 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 2,421 | 16.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 X4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Suspension (5.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% 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
How many 2015 BMW X4s pass their MOT?
85.2% of the 12,131 2015 BMW X4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 BMW X4?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by suspension (5.2%).
Does the 2015 X4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,131 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.