BMW 320: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 320 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 11 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 40,151 individual BMW 320 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate87.7%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+11 points
Tests analysed40,151
Average mileage at test59,703 miles
Average year of manufacture2018
Reliability rank1,025 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 87.7% first-time pass rate means roughly 12 in every 100 BMW 320s 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 320 tested had covered 59,703 miles and was built around 2018.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 320 sits 11 points above the national average, ranked 1,025 of 2,005 models. On one bought as 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. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW 320 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 recorded closing bids for damaged BMW 320s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 320

  1. Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, 0.3% of tests (1.68x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.5% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.2% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.7% of tests (1.33x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.2% of tests
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.7% of tests
  7. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.5% of tests
  8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.9% of tests
  9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.9% of tests
  10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.6% of tests

From 40,027 DVSA-tracked BMW 320 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 9.05% of these flagged BMW 320 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 320

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a BMW 320 before it actually fails on it.

  1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 30.5% of tests, also fails
  2. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 10.6% of tests, also fails
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 6.8% of tests, also fails
  4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 5.9% of tests
  5. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.4% of tests
  6. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.4% of tests, also fails
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.9% of tests, also fails
  8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 1.9% of tests
  9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.8% of tests
  10. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.7% of tests

From 40,027 DVSA-tracked BMW 320 tests, 2024.

BMW 320 pass rate by model year

From its 2016 to its 2021 model year, the BMW 320's first-time pass rate has risen 3.7 points, from 86.9% to 90.6%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 320 year:

BMW 320 by fuel type

The BMW 320's two most-tested fuel types split by 2 points: diesel passes first time 87.1% of the time (21,899 tests) against 89.1% for petrol (18,080 tests).

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 320 MOT pass rate badge: 87.7%

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BMW 320 most common MOT failure: Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator (0.3% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate