MOT performance
BMW X3 petrol: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 26,914 MOT tests on petrol BMW X3s in 2023–2024 (on average 7.4 years old at test, median 35,083 miles), 83.0% passed first time, against 78.4% of 162,002 diesel BMW X3 tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, petrol BMW X3s failed 23% less often than comparable cars — 0.77× against 0.79× for the BMW X3 as a whole.
26,914 MOT tests on 14,629 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 83.0% | ±0.4 pts (95%), n = 26,914 |
| All BMW X3s | 79.8% | n = 204,786 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.77× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; BMW X3 overall 0.79× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 4.6% | n = 26,914 |
| Average age at test | 7.4 years | n = 26,914 |
| Registration years covered | 1998–2022 | DVSA first-use date |
Petrol against the other BMW X3 fuels
Official DVSA test results by fuel, with 73 Auto's adjusted ratio (failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel). The petrol cars were tested 1 years younger on average than the diesel ones, so the raw pass rates partly reflect age; the adjusted column doesn't.
| Fuel | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 162,002 | 8.4 yrs | 78.4% | -21% | 6.0% |
| Petrol | 26,914 | 7.4 yrs | 83.0% | -23% | 4.6% |
| Hybrid | 12,906 | 2.4 yrs | 88.8% | Same | 3.7% |
| Electric | 2,962 | 2.1 yrs | 86.9% | -4% | 4.5% |
Where petrol BMW X3s differ
- Noise, emissions and leaks: petrol BMW X3s failed 53% more often than the BMW X3 overall, relative to comparable cars (0.85× vs 0.56×).
- Steering: petrol BMW X3s failed 51% more often than the BMW X3 overall, relative to comparable cars (0.41× vs 0.27×).
- Body, chassis and structure: petrol BMW X3s failed 38% more often than the BMW X3 overall, relative to comparable cars (0.37× vs 0.27×).
- Lights, reflectors and electrical: petrol BMW X3s failed 25% less often than the BMW X3 overall, relative to comparable cars (0.56× vs 0.76×).
| Area | Petrol (vs similar) | All BMW X3s (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 5.7% (+2%) | 6.1% (-7%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 4.8% (-44%) | 6.9% (-24%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 3.6% (-19%) | 3.5% (-14%) |
| Suspension | 3.4% (-38%) | 4.6% (-38%) |
| Brakes | 3.0% (-46%) | 3.4% (-44%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.5% (-15%) | 1.4% (-44%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.2% (+20%) | 1.0% (+5%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 1.0% (-63%) | 0.8% (-73%) |
| Steering | 0.5% (-59%) | 0.4% (-73%) |
Most common petrol BMW X3 failure items
1 of these 5 items is not among the BMW X3's ten most common failures overall.
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 2.33% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 1.80% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.69% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 1.48% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 1.23% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | petrol pass rate (tests) | diesel pass rate (tests) | hybrid pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 90.3% (12,830) | 89.2% (27,887) | 89.3% (4,242) |
| 5-6 | 88.1% (3,542) | 85.3% (29,797) | — |
| 7-8 | — | 79.4% (30,445) | — |
| 9-10 | — | 74.2% (26,530) | — |
| 11-12 | — | 71.5% (20,363) | — |
| 13-15 | 69.6% (247) | 70.0% (9,457) | — |
| 16+ | 63.3% (6,750) | 62.5% (14,723) | — |
BMW X3 by registration year
Registration-year pages cover every fuel of that year.
- 2004 BMW X3 · 62.4%
- 2005 BMW X3 · 60.6%
- 2006 BMW X3 · 63.6%
- 2007 BMW X3 · 64.5%
- 2008 BMW X3 · 68.5%
- 2009 BMW X3 · 69.8%
- 2011 BMW X3 · 73.6%
- 2012 BMW X3 · 70.6%
- 2013 BMW X3 · 73.0%
- 2014 BMW X3 · 75.2%
- 2015 BMW X3 · 78.7%
- 2016 BMW X3 · 80.5%
- 2017 BMW X3 · 84.1%
- 2018 BMW X3 · 88.1%
- 2019 BMW X3 · 89.3%
- 2020 BMW X3 · 89.3%
- 2021 BMW X3 · 88.5%
What this does and doesn't tell you
Fuel is DVSA's recorded fuel type; plug-in and self-charging hybrids are grouped as hybrid. A difference between fuels can come from the engines themselves, or from how the cars are used — diesels typically cover more miles, and the adjusted ratio allows for mileage band but not for every difference in use. For one car, its own MOT history is the better guide: see MOT check.
Check a specific petrol BMW X3
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.