BMW 3 Series: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 3 Series passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 0.1 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 379,649 individual BMW 3 Series tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate76.8%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+0.1 points
Tests analysed379,649
Average mileage at test108,146 miles
Average year of manufacture2010
Reliability rank1,555 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 76.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 23 in every 100 BMW 3 Series presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW 3 Series tested had covered 108,146 miles and was built around 2010.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a BMW 3 Series bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. See how it stacks up against the Ford Fiesta.

Looking at a specific BMW 3 Series rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged BMW 3 Series actually sold for at UK salvage auction, from 35 real settled sales.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 3 Series

  1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.5% of tests (3.53x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.4% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.7% of tests (1.39x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.7% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.7% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this defect)
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.7% of tests
  7. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.2% of tests
  8. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.8% of tests
  9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.7% of tests
  10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.4% of tests

From 679,839 DVSA-tracked BMW 3 Series tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.46% of these flagged BMW 3 Series defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW 3 Series pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each BMW 3 Series year:

BMW 3 Series by fuel type

Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number:

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 3 Series MOT pass rate badge: 76.8%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate