BMW 330i M Sport Auto: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 330i M Sport Auto passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 13.5 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 795 individual BMW 330i M Sport Auto tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 90.2% first-time pass rate means roughly 10 in every 100 BMW 330i M Sport Autos 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 330i M Sport Auto tested had covered 26,344 miles and was built around 2021.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 330i M Sport Auto sits 13.5 points above the national average, ranked 673 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 330i M Sport Auto 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 330i M Sport Autos at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 330i M Sport Auto

1. A tyre seriously damaged, 5.4% of tests (1.94x the national rate for this defect)
2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.6% of tests
3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.4% of tests
4. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.9% of tests (4.77x the national rate for this defect)
5. Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended, 0.6% of tests (4.27x the national rate for this defect)
6. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.5% of tests (1.63x the national rate for this defect)
7. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.4% of tests
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.3% of tests
9. Tyres on the same axle or on twin wheels are different sizes, 0.3% of tests (2.1x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.3% of tests

From 794 DVSA-tracked BMW 330i M Sport Auto tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 12.2% of these flagged BMW 330i M Sport Auto defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 330i M Sport Auto

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 330i M Sport Auto before it actually fails on it.

1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 19% of tests, also fails
2. A tyre seriously damaged, 5.9% of tests, also fails
3. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.9% of tests, also fails
4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.5% of tests
5. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.6% of tests
6. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.6% of tests
7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 0.3% of tests
8. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 0.3% of tests
9. A seat belt webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened, 0.1% of tests
10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.1% of tests

From 794 DVSA-tracked BMW 330i M Sport Auto tests, 2024.

Other BMW models

• BMW 3 Series - 76.8%
• BMW 118 - 81.9%
• BMW 116 - 78.6%
• BMW X1 - 85.2%
• BMW X3 - 82.3%
• BMW X5 - 81.2%
• BMW 1 Series - 81.6%
• BMW 520 - 80.2%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Vauxhall Crossland X Elite Turbo Auto - 90.2%
• SEAT Arona Se Technology Ecotsi S-A - 90.2%
• Land Rover Range Rover Evoque S D Mhev A - 90.2%
• Vauxhall Crossland Elite Turbo - 90.2%
• Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 Amg Line Prem De 4m A - 90.2%
• Volkswagen Id3 Max - 90.2%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate