MOT performance
BMW 3 Series MOT pass rate and common failures
Across 1,007,360 MOT tests of the BMW 3 Series in 2023–2024, 74.9% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, BMW 3 Seriess failed 23% less often than comparable cars. The most common failure item was “tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm”, on 2.73% of tests.
1,007,360 MOT tests on 536,354 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 74.9% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 1,007,360 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.77× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 8.6% | n = 1,007,360 |
| Average age at test | 11.1 years | n = 1,007,360 |
| Median mileage at test | 91,398 miles | n = 1,007,360 |
| Vehicles tested | 536,354 | 2023–2024 |
Where BMW 3 Seriess fail
The share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Areas where the difference is large and clear link to their own page.
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 9.0% | -34% |
| Tyres | 7.6% | +8% |
| Suspension | 6.6% | -41% |
| Brakes | 6.3% | -25% |
| Driver's view of the road | 3.6% | -32% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.7% | -33% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 1.3% | -72% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.1% | -21% |
| Road wheels | 1.1% | +127% |
| Steering | 0.6% | -74% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.5% | +4% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -27% |
BMW 3 Series MOT pass rate by fuel: diesel vs petrol vs hybrid
Raw pass rates partly reflect how old each fuel's cars are; the adjusted column compares each with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Fuels that differ materially from the model as a whole have their own page.
BMW 3 Series MOT pass rate by generation
Generations by first-registration date against 73 Auto's catalogue (cars registered within three months of a changeover left out).
| Generation | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F30 (2012–2019) | 419,696 | 7.9 yrs | 80.1% | -28% |
| G20 (2019 on) | 106,792 | 2.9 yrs | 85.9% | +4% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.73% |
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | Suspension | 2.52% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.36% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 1.88% |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements | Brakes | 1.66% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 1.62% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.51% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 1.47% |
| Headlamp aim: too low | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.35% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.26% |
Most common advisories
Advisories are items the tester expects to need attention soon; they don't fail the test.
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 17.85% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 7.56% |
| Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened | Brakes | 6.70% |
| Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine | Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.33% |
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | Suspension | 5.72% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 94,480 | 87.2% | -12% |
| 5-6 | 108,768 | 86.3% | -30% |
| 7-8 | 126,779 | 82.4% | -32% |
| 9-10 | 133,507 | 75.6% | -26% |
| 11-12 | 124,269 | 69.8% | -21% |
| 13-15 | 153,078 | 67.0% | -23% |
| 16+ | 228,212 | 66.3% | -22% |
Pass rate by registration year
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 521 | 90.0% | 0.81× |
| 2021 | 27,024 | 85.4% | 1.16× |
| 2020 | 44,880 | 85.4% | 1.11× |
| 2019 | 52,297 | 87.1% | 0.84× |
| 2018 | 49,775 | 87.0% | 0.73× |
| 2017 | 62,064 | 85.8% | 0.69× |
| 2016 | 63,922 | 84.2% | 0.66× |
| 2015 | 63,797 | 81.8% | 0.66× |
| 2014 | 64,754 | 77.3% | 0.72× |
| 2013 | 69,775 | 74.5% | 0.75× |
| 2012 | 67,291 | 69.7% | 0.82× |
| 2011 | 58,111 | 69.5% | 0.77× |
| 2010 | 53,983 | 67.6% | 0.78× |
| 2009 | 48,142 | 66.3% | 0.79× |
| 2008 | 47,975 | 67.2% | 0.74× |
| 2007 | 55,975 | 67.2% | 0.73× |
| 2006 | 41,622 | 66.3% | 0.74× |
| 2005 | 26,821 | 64.9% | 0.77× |
| 2004 | 21,440 | 64.1% | 0.80× |
| 2003 | 22,526 | 64.9% | 0.78× |
| 2002 | 17,221 | 65.0% | 0.79× |
| 2001 | 11,346 | 63.8% | 0.85× |
| 2000 | 6,246 | 64.6% | 0.86× |
| 1999 | 5,796 | 64.9% | 0.94× |
| 1998 | 4,514 | 67.8% | 0.95× |
| 1997 | 3,413 | 67.2% | 1.04× |
| 1996 | 2,428 | 66.7% | 1.05× |
| 1995 | 1,653 | 69.2% | 0.98× |
| 1994 | 1,046 | 65.5% | 1.08× |
| 1993 | 1,022 | 71.5% | 0.90× |
| 1992 | 1,012 | 75.4% | 0.78× |
| 1991 | 1,530 | 77.4% | 0.71× |
| 1990 | 2,608 | 76.8% | 0.72× |
| 1989 | 1,919 | 78.5% | 0.67× |
| 1988 | 1,196 | 77.6% | 0.70× |
| 1987 | 733 | 78.6% | 0.67× |
| 1986 | 409 | 74.3% | 0.83× |
Years with fewer tests are shown for completeness; only years with enough tests have their own page.
Compared with similar models
What a BMW 3 Series costs to own
73 Auto's worked ownership-cost examples for this model:
Check a specific BMW 3 Series
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.