BMW 3 Series MOT pass rate and common failures

72% of BMW 3 Series MOTs passed first time, above the 67% for all cars at the same ages.

72%passed first time (cars its age: 67%)
3.5mBMW 3 Series MOTs counted since May 2018
6,500typical miles a year at 10 years old

First-time pass rate by year registered

Each year's BMW 3 Seriess against every car first registered the same year, at the same ages. Newer cars have only had their first few MOTs, so they look better. Years with fewer than 5,000 MOTs are left out.

Share of MOTs passed first time, by year first registered. All cars: every car first registered that year, at the same ages.
Registered	3 Series	All cars	MOTs
2020	86%	86%	13k
2019	86%	85%	57k
2018	87%	84%	51k
2017	87%	83%	26k
2016	86%	80%	199k
2015	84%	78%	264k
2014	79%	74%	262k
2013	77%	71%	288k
2012	72%	68%	286k
2011	72%	65%	252k
2010	69%	63%	236k
2009	68%	61%	211k
2008	68%	59%	223k
2007	68%	58%	266k
2006	67%	56%	206k
2005	63%	56%	143k
2004	61%	55%	112k
2003	61%	55%	118k
2002	60%	56%	94k
2001	59%	57%	62k
2000	59%	59%	36k
1999	60%	62%	31k
1998	64%	64%	21k
1997	64%	66%	15k
1996	64%	66%	11k
1995	64%	66%	7k
1991	75%	70%	6k
1990	75%	71%	10k

Compare two years of the 3 Series, age for age.

First-time pass rate by age

Share of MOTs at each age that passed first time. Ages with fewer than 10,000 BMW 3 Series MOTs are left out.

Commonest reasons for failure

Tyre tread below the legal limitOther cars its age: 2.83.2
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leakOther cars its age: 1.03.0
Position lamp not workingOther cars its age: 3.02.4
Parking brake efficiency too lowOther cars its age: 1.72.2
Tyre has ply or cords exposedOther cars its age: 1.42.0
Brake pads less than 1.5mm thickOther cars its age: 1.91.7
Windscreen washer gives too little liquidOther cars its age: 1.61.7
Headlamp aim too lowOther cars its age: 1.51.6

Out of every 100 BMW 3 Series MOTs, against other cars at the same ages.

Where it comes up more than other cars its age

Brake hose slightly deterioratedAdvisory. Other cars its age: 0.64.8
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leakFail. Other cars its age: 1.03.0
Road wheel fixing missingFail. Other cars its age: 0.30.6
Brake hose excessively deterioratedFail. Other cars its age: 0.10.6
Road wheel fracturedFail. Other cars its age: 0.00.4
Prop shaft flexible coupling slightly deterioratedAdvisory. Other cars its age: 0.00.3

Out of every 100 BMW 3 Series MOTs. Only items noted well above other cars of the same ages.

Miles a year

Typical miles a year between one MOT and the next: 8,500 at 3 years old, 3,500 at 20. Rounded to the nearest 1,000.

Counted from DVSA records of 286,058,652 MOTs, 20 May 2018 to 18 October 2026. A test and its retests count as one MOT, and a fail put right at the test counts as a first-time fail, as the DVSA counts it. About BMW 3 Seriess in general, not a prediction for any one car. Spotted a mistake? Email fuzzyreguk@gmail.com.

Check a BMW 3 Series's MOT history

Every test and advisory, free, from the registration.