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. The BMW X3 sits 5.6 points above the national average, ranked 1,361 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 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 the median recorded closing bid for a damaged BMW X3: £550 at UK salvage auction, from 18 ended listings, not independently confirmed 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, 1.9% of tests (2.97x the national rate for this defect)
2. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 2.7% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.2% of tests
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3% of tests
5. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2% of tests
6. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.9% of tests
7. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.8% of tests
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.6% of tests
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.5% of tests
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.3% of tests

From 92,663 DVSA-tracked BMW X3 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.89% of these flagged BMW X3 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW X3

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 X3 before it actually fails on it.

1. A shock absorber which has negligible damping effect, 0.4% of tests (1.31x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 31.3% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 9.6% of tests, also fails
4. A tyre seriously damaged, 9.4% of tests, also fails
5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 6.8% of tests
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.7% of tests, also fails
7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 4.6% of tests
8. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 3.1% of tests, also fails
9. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3% of tests
10. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 2.5% of tests

From 92,663 DVSA-tracked BMW X3 tests, 2024.

BMW X3 pass rate by model year

From its 2004 to its 2021 model year, the BMW X3's first-time pass rate has risen 19.6 points, from 71.9% to 91.5%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. 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

The BMW X3's two most-tested fuel types split by 4.3 points: diesel passes first time 82.1% of the time (79,472 tests) against 86.4% for petrol (12,796 tests).

• 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
• 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