MOT performance
BMW 3 Series F30 (2012–2019): MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 419,696 MOT tests on the BMW 3 Series F30 in 2023–2024 (cars first registered May 2012–Nov 2018, on average 7.9 years old at test), 80.1% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, the F30 failed 28% less often than comparable cars. Against the generation that replaced it, the G20, it fails 30% less often once age and mileage are allowed for (0.72× vs 1.04×).
419,696 MOT tests on 210,437 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 80.1% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 419,696 |
| All BMW 3 Seriess | 74.9% | n = 1,007,360 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.72× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; BMW 3 Series overall 0.77× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 7.5% | n = 419,696 |
| Average age at test | 7.9 years | n = 419,696 |
| On sale (catalogue) | 2012–2019 | Feb 2012 to Feb 2019 |
F30 against the other BMW 3 Series generations
Newer generations are younger at test, so their raw pass rates are higher almost by default; the adjusted column compares each with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel.
| Generation | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F30 (2012–2019) | 419,696 | 7.9 yrs | 80.1% | -28% | 7.5% |
| G20 (2019 on) | 106,792 | 2.9 yrs | 85.9% | +4% | 7.0% |
Where the F30 differs
- Seat belts and airbags: the F30 failed 51% less often than the BMW 3 Series overall, relative to comparable cars (0.39× vs 0.79×).
- Noise, emissions and leaks: the F30 failed 41% less often than the BMW 3 Series overall, relative to comparable cars (0.39× vs 0.67×).
- Body, chassis and structure: the F30 failed 39% less often than the BMW 3 Series overall, relative to comparable cars (0.17× vs 0.28×).
- Steering: the F30 failed 27% less often than the BMW 3 Series overall, relative to comparable cars (0.19× vs 0.26×).
| Area | F30 (vs similar) | G20 (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 7.4% (-24%) | 2.0% (-34%) |
| Tyres | 7.3% (+3%) | 8.8% (+59%) |
| Suspension | 3.6% (-55%) | 0.7% (-15%) |
| Brakes | 3.5% (-44%) | 1.1% (-43%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 2.4% (-41%) | 1.3% (-58%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.0% (-61%) | 0.5% (-9%) |
| Road wheels | 0.9% (+121%) | 0.4% (+91%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 0.4% (-83%) | 0.1% (-65%) |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.4% (+7%) | 0.3% (+41%) |
| Steering | 0.3% (-81%) | 0.3% (+76%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.3% (-61%) | 0.4% (+24%) |
Most common BMW 3 Series F30 failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.63% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.88% |
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | Suspension | 1.64% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 1.63% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.44% |
Pass rate by age, by generation
At the same age, the generations can be compared directly.
| Age at test (years) | F30 pass rate (tests) | G20 pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 87.9% (15,850) | 87.0% (64,573) |
| 5-6 | 86.3% (99,856) | 85.5% (3,952) |
| 7-8 | 82.4% (126,779) | — |
| 9-10 | 75.7% (130,392) | — |
| 11-12 | 70.2% (46,819) | — |
Registration years in the F30
How cars are assigned to a generation
DVSA records don't say which generation a car is, so 73 Auto assigns each test by first-registration date against its catalogue's on-sale dates for the F30 (Feb 2012 to Feb 2019). Cars registered within three months either side of a changeover are left out, because run-out stock of the old model and early cars of the new one are registered in the same months. Some cars near the edges may still be of the neighbouring generation.
Check a specific BMW 3 Series F30
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.