MOT performance
1996 BMW 3 Series: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 2,428 MOT tests on 1996-registered BMW 3 Seriess in 2023–2024 (on average 25 years old at test, median 113,893 miles), 66.7% passed first time, 8.2 points lower than the BMW 3 Series overall. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, 1996 BMW 3 Seriess failed 5% more often than comparable cars.
2,428 MOT tests on 1,466 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 66.7% | ±1.9 pts (95%), n = 2,428 |
| All BMW 3 Seriess | 74.9% | n = 1,007,360 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.05× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 6.9% | n = 2,428 |
| Average age at test | 25 years | n = 2,428 |
Where 1996 BMW 3 Seriess fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 15.0% | +3% |
| Suspension | 12.4% | +24% |
| Brakes | 10.5% | Same |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.9% | +1% |
| Driver's view of the road | 7.7% | +25% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 4.9% | -36% |
| Tyres | 3.9% | +29% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 2.8% | +7% |
| Steering | 1.9% | -36% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.8% | +16% |
| Road wheels | 0.5% | +94% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -57% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.54% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 3.46% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 2.88% |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | Suspension | 2.88% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.84% |
Check a specific 1996 BMW 3 Series
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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.