MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Does the BMW 4 Series fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?

The BMW 4 Series records 2.24 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 5.66 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−3.42, 95% interval −3.49 to −3.36). It ranks 472 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a BMW 4 Series by registration

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the BMW 4 Series is “A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning”, recorded 2,176 times in 2019–2024.

BMW 4 Series: most frequent lamps, reflectors and electrics defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wordingItemsPer 100 tests
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning2,1760.41
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED1,9210.37
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements1,4660.28
Audible warning inoperative9640.18
A headlamp cleaning device inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID)6800.13

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 525,142 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

Other pages for this model

BMW 4 Series 2013 · BMW 4 Series 2014 · BMW 4 Series 2015 · BMW 4 Series 2016 · BMW 4 Series 2017 · BMW 4 Series 2018 · BMW 4 Series 2019 · BMW 4 Series 2020 · BMW 4 Series by postcode area · BMW 4 Series body, chassis and structure failures · BMW 4 Series brakes failures · BMW 4 Series vehicle identification failures · BMW 4 Series noise, emissions and leaks failures · BMW 4 Series road wheels failures · BMW 4 Series seat belts and airbags failures · BMW 4 Series steering failures · BMW 4 Series suspension failures · BMW 4 Series tyres failures · BMW 4 Series visibility failures