BMW X3: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW X3 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 5.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 92,767 individual BMW X3 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 82.3% first-time pass rate means roughly 18 in every 100 BMW X3s 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 X3 tested had covered 77,256 miles and was built around 2015.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a BMW X3 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 X3 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 X3s actually sold for at UK salvage auction, from 3 real settled sales.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW X3

1. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.2% of tests (2.54x the national rate for this defect)
2. A tyre seriously damaged, 2% of tests
3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.9% of tests
4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 1.8% of tests
5. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.3% of tests
6. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.2% of tests
7. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.2% of tests
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.1% of tests
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1% of tests
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.8% of tests

From 170,443 DVSA-tracked BMW X3 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.53% of these flagged BMW X3 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW X3 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 X3 year:

• 2004 BMW X3 - 71.9% first-time pass, 2,139 tests
• 2005 BMW X3 - 67.6% first-time pass, 2,561 tests
• 2006 BMW X3 - 70.9% first-time pass, 3,043 tests
• 2007 BMW X3 - 70.9% first-time pass, 2,260 tests
• 2008 BMW X3 - 75.7% first-time pass, 1,483 tests
• 2009 BMW X3 - 75.5% first-time pass, 1,327 tests
• 2010 BMW X3 - 78.3% first-time pass, 913 tests
• 2011 BMW X3 - 78.6% first-time pass, 3,970 tests
• 2012 BMW X3 - 75.8% first-time pass, 6,765 tests
• 2013 BMW X3 - 77.5% first-time pass, 7,116 tests
• 2014 BMW X3 - 79.2% first-time pass, 6,051 tests
• 2015 BMW X3 - 82.6% first-time pass, 7,002 tests
• 2016 BMW X3 - 83.7% first-time pass, 9,028 tests
• 2017 BMW X3 - 86.3% first-time pass, 8,131 tests
• 2018 BMW X3 - 90.4% first-time pass, 8,110 tests
• 2019 BMW X3 - 90% first-time pass, 15,070 tests
• 2020 BMW X3 - 90.1% first-time pass, 5,290 tests
• 2021 BMW X3 - 91.5% first-time pass, 2,031 tests

BMW X3 by fuel type

Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number:

• Diesel BMW X3 - 82.1% first-time pass, 79,472 tests
• Petrol BMW X3 - 86.4% first-time pass, 12,796 tests

Other BMW models

• BMW 3 Series - 76.8%
• BMW 118 - 81.9%
• BMW 116 - 78.6%
• BMW X1 - 85.2%
• BMW X5 - 81.2%
• BMW 1 Series - 81.6%
• BMW 520 - 80.2%
• BMW 5 Series - 85.3%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Maserati Granturismo - 82.5%
• Ford Kuga - 82.4%
• Volkswagen Tiguan - 82.4%
• Abarth 595 - 82.3%
• Mercedes-Benz V - 82.3%
• Mercedes-Benz X - 82.3%

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

Embed this data

Run a site about the BMW X3? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-x3"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/bmw-x3.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="BMW X3 MOT Pass Rate: 82.3% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate