Petrol BMW 330: MOT pass rate

88.3% of petrol BMW 330s pass the MOT first time, measured across 648 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 61,346.

Petrol against the other BMW 330 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the BMW 330 specifically, diesel is the strongest at 88.4%, and this petrol version sits 0.6 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 petrol BMW 330 had covered 61,346 miles at test, against 63,536 for the hybrid and 69,704 for the diesel. That is around average, so condition and service history will tell you more than the odometer does.

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 petrol BMW 330

1. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.9% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this defect)
2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.8% of tests
3. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.3% of tests
4. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.3% of tests (1.33x the national rate for this defect)
5. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.3% of tests
6. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.8% of tests
7. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 0.8% of tests
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.6% of tests
9. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 0.6% of tests
10. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.5% of tests

From 633 DVSA-tracked petrol BMW 330 tests, 2024, split out from the BMW 330's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 7.42% 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 petrol 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, 20.7% of tests, also fails
2. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 8.8% of tests
3. A tyre seriously damaged, 6.6% of tests, also fails
4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 4.7% of tests
5. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4.3% of tests, also fails
6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 3.9% of tests
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.9% of tests, also fails
8. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 2.4% of tests
9. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.4% of tests
10. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 1.6% of tests (2.82x the national rate for this defect)

From 633 DVSA-tracked petrol BMW 330 tests, 2024.

Other BMW 330 fuel types

• Hybrid BMW 330 - 87.5%
• Diesel BMW 330 - 88.4%

All BMW 330 MOT data · Every model