BMW

BMW Z4 build years & generations

Coverage 2003-present3 named generationsConvertiblePETROL

The BMW Z4 spans several build years and named generations (2003-present). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest BMW Z4 generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 2003-2004
Generation
E85/E86
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2008
Generation
E85/E86
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2009-2012
Generation
E89
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2013-2016
Generation
E89
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2019-2020
Generation
G29
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2021+
Generation
G29
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2003-2004	E85/E86	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005-2008	E85/E86	2005-2008	Counted with this generation only.
2009-2012	E89	2009-2012	Counted with this generation only.
2013-2016	E89	2013-2016	Counted with this generation only.
2019-2020	G29	2017-2020	Counted with this generation only.
2021+	G29	2021 onwards	Counted with every car built from 2021.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of BMW Z4 build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

2021 onwards

G29 only

All G29 cars built from 2021. Newer cars join this group until there is enough MOT history to split it.

Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)

8.5%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)

Ages with data

3 to 4 years old

MOT tests counted

1,866

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

3 years

1,0926.5%

4 years

7748.5%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 4 years old.

Built

2017-2020

G29 only

These build years are all G29, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 8 years old (latest age)

14.4%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 5 (18.5%)

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

4,049

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

4 years

6619.2%

5 years

1,8929.3%

6 years

1,35710.0%

8 years

13914.4%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 8 years old.

Built

2013-2016

E89 only

These build years are all E89, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

15.8%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

7,459

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

8 years

60313.1%

9 years

1,58715.4%

10 years

2,16116.0%

11 years

2,06916.1%

12 years

1,03915.8%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 11 years old.

Built

2009-2012

E89 only

These build years are all E89, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

18.3%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

9,720

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

12 years

1,00217.5%

13 years

2,38016.1%

14 years

2,12916.3%

15 years

2,80016.6%

16 years

1,40918.3%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 16 years old.

Built

2005-2008

E85/E86 only

These build years are all E85/E86, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

25.9%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

12,240

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

16 years

1,01023.9%

17 years

2,89622.7%

18 years

4,41722.5%

19 years

2,61226.0%

20 years

1,30525.9%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 19 years old.

Built

Before 2005

E85/E86 only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the E85/E86.

Fail rate at 22 years old (latest age)

24.9%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (29.3%)

Ages with data

20 to 22 years old

MOT tests counted

6,669

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

20 years

1,53124.4%

21 years

4,11224.2%

22 years

1,02624.9%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 22 years old.