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. The BMW 330 sits 10.6 points above the national average, ranked 1,072 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 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 recorded closing bids for damaged BMW 330s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 330

  1. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.4% of tests (6.99x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.7% of tests (1.68x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.3% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this defect)
  4. 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, 0.3% of tests (1.6x the national rate for this defect)
  5. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.4% of tests (1.28x the national rate for this defect)
  6. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)
  7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.3% of tests
  8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.9% of tests
  9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.8% of tests
  10. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.8% of tests

From 20,902 DVSA-tracked BMW 330 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 11.04% of these flagged BMW 330 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 330

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 330 before it actually fails on it.

  1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 29.1% of tests, also fails
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 6.4% of tests, also fails
  3. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 4.9% of tests
  4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 4.2% of tests
  5. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.1% of tests, also fails
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.8% of tests, also fails
  7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.4% of tests
  8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 1.4% of tests
  9. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1% of tests
  10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.7% of tests

From 20,902 DVSA-tracked BMW 330 tests, 2024.

BMW 330 pass rate by model year

From its 2016 to its 2020 model year, the BMW 330's first-time pass rate has fallen 0.7 points, from 87.5% to 86.8%, an unusual pattern where even its newest years fail more than its oldest. First-time pass rate for each BMW 330 year:

BMW 330 by fuel type

The BMW 330's two most-tested fuel types split by 0.9 points: hybrid passes first time 87.5% of the time (15,787 tests) against 88.4% for diesel (4,418 tests).

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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BMW 330 most common MOT failure: Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (0.4% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-330"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/bmw-330.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="BMW 330 most common MOT failure: Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (0.4% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate