The picture
370 Z: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,916 MOT tests, the 370 Z returns 86.0% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. Windscreen damage and a defective headlamp lens round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 58,631, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
59 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
41 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 03
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
41 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 04
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
29 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 05
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
23 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 06
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
19 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 07
A tyre cords visible or damaged
19 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 08
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
17 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 09
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
14 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 10
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
13 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£80–£255
If every one of this 370 Z's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a 370 Z?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 370 Z and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.