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What to check: BMW Z4

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Ranked across all years of the BMW Z4, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

WheelsRuns high on this modelLook at each rim for kerb damage and check no wheel nuts are missing. A steering wheel that shimmies between 50 and 60 on the test drive often turns out to be a buckled or badly balanced wheel.Recorded on 3.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.1%

DampersLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 2.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

Coil springsLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 1.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.4%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 1.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Bushes and ball jointsDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 0.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.9%

Underneath, with a torchGet down and look at the sills, the subframes and the rear suspension mounting points. Flaking scale and bubbling matter; light surface rust does not. On older cars this is the one check that finds the fault that scraps them.Recorded on 0.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 19.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 8.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 1.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

With the roof up and down a couple of times, listen for the hood motor labouring, and check under the boot trim by the passenger B-pillar for damp or corrosion.A straining motor or a musty smell there points to water ingress and a £900+ repair.

Walk round all four wheels and check the rears closely for hairline cracks, not just kerb scuffs.A cracked rim, especially on an E89 with 19s, means an immediate replacement and ties to this model's real MOT wheel-failure pattern.

Turn the wheel lock to lock at a standstill, then again on the move at low speed.Sticky, jumpy or inconsistent weight in the steering points to EPAS wear or failure.

Check the MOT history and any service invoices for repeat DSC, ABS or stability-control warning lights.A DSC fault that keeps coming back means the module or sensor is on its way out, a job that can run to £2,000.

If the car is on run-flat tyres, check for a lit TPMS warning with the engine running.A lit warning can mean corroded valve stems rather than an actual puncture.

Pair your phone, lock the car without disconnecting it, then check the battery the next day if you can.A flat battery from Bluetooth hunting is a known but minor gremlin, not a sign of a bigger fault.

Test every switch, indicators included, and give the door mirror glass a gentle push.A failed indicator stalk or loose mirror glass are cheap-ish but genuinely common niggles on this model.

Full BMW Z4 reliability report