BMW 330: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 330 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 10.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 20,953 individual BMW 330 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate87.3%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+10.6 points
Tests analysed20,953
Average mileage at test64,282 miles
Average year of manufacture2018
Reliability rank1,072 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 87.3% first-time pass rate means roughly 13 in every 100 BMW 330s 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 330 tested had covered 64,282 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. On a BMW 330 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. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW 330 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 330s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 330

  1. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.3% of tests (5.61x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.3% of tests (1.71x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber, 0.2% of tests (1.55x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.9% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2% of tests
  6. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.2% of tests
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.5% of tests
  8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.5% of tests
  9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.5% of tests
  10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.3% of tests

From 40,053 DVSA-tracked BMW 330 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 10.01% of these flagged BMW 330 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW 330 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 330 year:

BMW 330 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 330 MOT pass rate badge: 87.3%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate