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MG Zr 105 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free MG Zr 105 car check

Is the MG Zr 105 reliable? We analysed 267 real MOT tests across 138 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 267 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.2%
Typical Mileage
43,545mi
Annual Mileage
4,872mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
22yrs

The MG Zr 105 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and track rod end ball joint has excessive play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used MG Zr 105.

MG Zr 105 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a MG Zr 105. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

MG Zr 105 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a MG Zr 105 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

73.7%
2005
69.8%
2004

MG Zr 105 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a MG Zr 105 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 18
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 11
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 10
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 7
position lamp(s) not working 6
Headlamp aim too low 5
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 5
Headlamp aim too high 4
Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image 3
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 3

MG Zr 105 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical MG Zr 105 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,047 mi/yr
Typical
4,872 mi/yr
Average
5,777 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,956 mi/yr

MG Zr 105 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the MG Zr 105 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2005 114 73.7% 17,655 34,629 57,756
2004 86 69.8% 28,066 39,164 51,878

MG Zr 105 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all MG Zr 105 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
43,545 mi
75th Percentile
71,426 mi
95th Percentile
126,487 mi
Max Recorded
149,531 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used MG Zr 105

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2005

73.7% MOT pass rate from 114 tests

Year to avoid
2004

69.8% MOT pass rate from 86 tests

The best year to buy a used MG Zr 105 is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 73.7% across 114 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the MG Zr 105 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
MG Zr 105 THIS CAR 74.2% 267 43,545 mi 22 yrs
MG Zr 69.8% 651,705 57,257 mi 25 yrs
MG Mgf 66.7% 546,238 62,469 mi 31 yrs
MG Tf 72.8% 475,348 45,249 mi 24 yrs
Husqvarna Te 300I 2021 82.6% 236 1,736 mi — yrs

Compared to the MG Zr (69.8% pass rate) and the MG Mgf (66.7% pass rate), the MG Zr 105 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used MG Zr 105?

The MG Zr 105 has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.2% across 267 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the MG Zr 105 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (18 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (11), and track rod end ball joint has excessive play (10). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical MG Zr 105 owner drives around 4,872 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most MG Zr 105 models stay on UK roads for around 22 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

MG Zr 105 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the MG Zr 105 reliable?
Based on 267 MOT tests, the MG Zr 105 has a 74.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a MG Zr 105?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and track rod end ball joint has excessive play. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a MG Zr 105 do per year?
The typical MG Zr 105 does around 4,872 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a MG Zr 105 last?
Most MG Zr 105 models stay on UK roads for around 22 years based on our analysis of 138 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a MG Zr 105?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a MG Zr 105?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used MG Zr 105 is 2005 with a 73.7% pass rate across 114 tests.