Diesel BMW 330: MOT pass rate

88.4% of diesel BMW 330s pass the MOT first time, measured across 4,418 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 69,704.

Diesel against the other BMW 330 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 330 specifically, diesel is the strongest at 88.4%, and this diesel version sits 0.7 points above the 87.7% 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 330 had covered 69,704 miles at test, against 63,536 for the hybrid and 61,346 for the petrol. That is a shade above the middle of the range, still ordinary wear rather than a red flag, but worth checking against the service book for the car's age.

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 330 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel BMW 330

1. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.7% of tests (11.55x the national rate for this defect)
2. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.3% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.2% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect)
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.4% of tests
5. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.1% of tests
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1% of tests
7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.8% of tests
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.6% of tests
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.6% of tests
10. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.4% of tests

From 4,415 DVSA-tracked diesel BMW 330 tests, 2024, split out from the BMW 330's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 10.18% 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 330

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

1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 27.3% of tests, also fails
2. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 8.4% of tests, also fails
3. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 5.8% of tests
4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 4.8% of tests, also fails
5. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.8% of tests, also fails
6. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.8% of tests, also fails
7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2% of tests
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 1.7% of tests
9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.9% of tests
10. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 0.8% of tests

From 4,415 DVSA-tracked diesel BMW 330 tests, 2024.

Other BMW 330 fuel types

• Hybrid BMW 330 - 87.5%
• Petrol BMW 330 - 88.3%

All BMW 330 MOT data · Every model