MOT performance
2008 BMW M3: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 2,218 MOT tests on 2008-registered BMW M3s in 2023–2024 (on average 15 years old at test, median 82,000 miles), 86.6% passed first time, 0.9 points higher than the BMW M3 overall. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, 2008 BMW M3s failed 68% less often than comparable cars.
2,218 MOT tests on 1,242 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 86.6% | ±1.4 pts (95%), n = 2,218 |
| All BMW M3s | 85.7% | n = 31,544 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.32× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 3.2% | n = 2,218 |
| Average age at test | 15 years | n = 2,218 |
Where 2008 BMW M3s fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 4.1% | -79% |
| Tyres | 3.4% | -53% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.5% | -60% |
| Suspension | 2.4% | -85% |
| Brakes | 2.2% | -78% |
| Driver's view of the road | 2.2% | -68% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.9% | +79% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.8% | -52% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 0.6% | -91% |
| Road wheels | 0.3% | -34% |
| Steering | 0.1% | -97% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 1.58% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.49% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 1.04% |
| Side repeaters: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.04% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 0.95% |
Check a specific 2008 BMW M3
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.
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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.