Diesel BMW 3 Series: MOT pass rate

77.6% of diesel BMW 3 Series pass the MOT first time, measured across 240,857 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 116,477.

Diesel against the other BMW 3 Series versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the BMW 3 Series specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 85.2%, and this diesel version sits 0.2 points above the 77.4% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel BMW 3 Series had covered 116,477 miles at test, against 97,568 for the petrol and 79,365 for the hybrid. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the BMW 3 Series page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel BMW 3 Series

1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4.1% of tests (4.34x the national rate for this defect)
2. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 1.1% of tests (3.42x the national rate for this defect)
3. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.1% of tests (1.68x the national rate for this defect)
4. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.8% of tests (1.65x the national rate for this defect)
5. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.1% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this defect)
6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 4.5% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this defect)
7. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
8. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.3% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this defect)
9. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 1.4% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.6% of tests

From 242,315 DVSA-tracked diesel BMW 3 Series tests, 2024, split out from the BMW 3 Series's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 6.55% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel BMW 3 Series

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 7.3% of tests (12.96x the national rate for this defect)
2. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 9.2% of tests (2.34x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 1.3% of tests (1.57x the national rate for this defect)
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 35.8% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.2% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 13.6% of tests, also fails
7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 11.3% of tests
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 10.3% of tests
9. A tyre seriously damaged, 7.7% of tests, also fails
10. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 6.1% of tests

From 242,315 DVSA-tracked diesel BMW 3 Series tests, 2024.

Other BMW 3 Series fuel types

• Petrol BMW 3 Series - 76.8%
• Hybrid BMW 3 Series - 85.2%

All BMW 3 Series MOT data · Every model