BMW 4 Series vs Mazda MX-5

Both are coupés & GTs. First-time MOT failure at age 7, and what each one is known to fail on.

The Mazda MX-5 is the more reliable of the two. It fails its first MOT at age 7 10.9% of the time, against 15.2% for the BMW 4 Series.

BMW 4 Series

15.2%

fail at age 7

Rank 59 of 239 · 63k miles at 7 · 119,232 tests

Mazda MX-5

10.9%

fail at age 7

Rank 16 of 239 · 33k miles at 7 · 41,937 tests

What each one fails on

Measured

The faults each records most at ages 6 to 9. Same figures as each full report.

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively wornAdvisory4.7%

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)Advisory3.9%

A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakageAdvisory3.2%

Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road usersAdvisory2.6%

A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakageFail1.1%

A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mountingAdvisory0.8%

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively wornAdvisory11.3%

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corrodedAdvisory3.4%

Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brakeAdvisory3.0%

A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mountingAdvisory1.5%

Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brakeFail1.2%

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively wornFail0.9%