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CarsBMW 3 Series

MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

BMW 3 Series reliability: what the MOT shows

433,604 3 Series cars had an MOT in 2025. 76.7% passed first time, against 68.4% for other cars of the same age and mileage. That is 8.3 points better than comparable cars. Those registered from 2022 onwards pass as often as other cars their age.

76.7%passed first time

+8.3points against cars of the same age and mileage

2.2×as many road wheels failures as comparable cars

Report card

BMW 3 Series MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often 3 Series cars of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse

Year	Passed first time	Against same age and mileage	MOTs
2005	66.1%	+10.2	9,944
2006	67.4%	+12.3	15,797
2007	68.1%	+12.3	21,769
2008	67.8%	+12.2	19,192
2009	66.8%	+10.5	20,390
2010	67.9%	+10.6	23,048
2011	69.2%	+10.0	25,224
2012	68.1%	+6.8	31,098
2013	73.1%	+9.5	33,242
2014	75.7%	+9.6	31,295
2015	79.7%	+10.2	31,200
2016	83.2%	+10.5	31,251
2017	84.4%	+8.4	30,407
2018	85.7%	+6.5	24,315
2019	87.0%	+4.9	25,399
2020	87.3%	+2.7	21,301
2021	87.2%	+1.5	25,375
2022	85.7%	−0.8	13,357

Much worse: failed on that area at least 1.5 times as often. Worse: 1.15 to 1.5 times. Better: up to 0.87 times. Much better: two-thirds as often or less. Gaps under half a percentage point count as about the same. Registration year is the year the car was first used.

BMW 3 Series years to avoid, going by the MOT

Ahead2005 to 2021+1.5 to +12.3 ptsMost common failures: rbt (sp) (efficiency below requirements) in 2005; shock absorbers (has a serious fluid leak) in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; position lamp (not working) in 2013 and 2014; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019; condition (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) in 2020 and 2021. 420,247 MOTs.

Level2022−0.8 ptsMost common failure: condition (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords). 13,357 MOTs.

Well behind: 5 or more points below cars of the same age and mileage. Behind: 1.5 to 5 points below. Level: within 1.5 points. Ahead: 1.5 or more points above.

What fails

BMW 3 Series common faults at the MOT

1.1% of 3 Series MOTs failed on road wheels, against 0.5% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 7.4% on tyres, against 7.0%.

Most common failures

Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.6%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.1%

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.7%

Position lamp: not working2.2%Cars of the same age and mileage: 3.2%

Condition: has ply or cords exposed1.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.6%

Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.6%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.4%

Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.6%

Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.4%

Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.3%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.1%

3 SeriesSame age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Condition: fractured6.2×0.38% of 3 Series MOTs (1,667) against 0.06% for cars of the same age and mileage

Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated4.9×0.28% of 3 Series MOTs (1,228) against 0.06% for cars of the same age and mileage

Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.3×2.61% of 3 Series MOTs (11,316) against 1.12% for cars of the same age and mileage

Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure2.1×0.95% of 3 Series MOTs (4,124) against 0.44% for cars of the same age and mileage

Shock absorbers: has negligible damping effect2.0×0.28% of 3 Series MOTs (1,201) against 0.14% for cars of the same age and mileage

Attachment: fixing missing1.7×0.61% of 3 Series MOTs (2,635) against 0.35% for cars of the same age and mileage

Mileage

Pulls ahead after 30,000 miles

Up to 30,000 miles, 3 Series cars pass as often as cars of the same age and mileage. Ahead from there: 30–60,000 miles 5.3 points, 60–90,000 miles 9.3 points, 90–120,000 miles 10.7 points, 120,000+ miles 9.0 points.

3 Series, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid 3 Series

Diesels passed 74.5% first time, 9.4 points above comparable cars; petrols passed 77.7%, 8.4 points above comparable cars. Diesels had a median of 109,208 miles at the test, against 73,184 for petrols.

Fuel	MOTs	Passed first time	Same age and mileage	Gap (pts)	Median miles
Diesel	257,948	74.5%	65.1%	+9.4	109,208
Petrol	124,537	77.7%	69.3%	+8.4	73,184
Hybrid	43,051	85.3%	81.9%	+3.4	57,250
Other	8,060	86.5%	85.6%	+0.9	42,871

Against rivals

3 Series against other executive cars

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The 3 Series ranks 2 of 11.

Model	MOTs	Passed first time	Same age and mileage	Gap (pts)
1. BMW 5 Series	111,912	85.1%	75.4%	+9.7
2. BMW 3 Series	220,543	83.4%	76.2%	+7.2
3. VW Passat	86,106	79.6%	73.1%	+6.5
4. Jaguar XF	47,799	80.2%	74.1%	+6.1
5. Mercedes E-Class	140,596	81.9%	75.8%	+6.0
6. Mercedes C-Class	204,560	81.2%	76.0%	+5.2
7. Skoda Superb	49,005	80.1%	76.0%	+4.2
8. Jaguar XE	42,769	81.0%	77.2%	+3.8
9. Audi A4	117,487	79.1%	75.3%	+3.8
10. Tesla Model 3	67,557	84.1%	84.4%	−0.3
11. Vauxhall Insignia	110,320	70.7%	72.0%	−1.4

Check these before you buy a used 3 Series

What testers most often noted as advisories on 3 Series cars in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge18% (18%)
Brake pads: wearing thin7% (8%)
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7% (10%)
Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil6% (4%)
Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement6% (7%)
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive5% (7%)
Condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing4% (8%)
Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated3% (0%)

Questions about 3 Series reliability

Is the BMW 3 Series reliable?

At the MOT, 76.7% of 433,604 3 Series MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 68.4% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2005 to 2021: ahead (+1.5 to +12.3 points). 2022: level (−0.8 points).

Which BMW 3 Series years should I avoid?

None stand out: every registration year is within 1.5 points of cars of the same age and mileage, or ahead of them.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 3 Series?

Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak: 2.6% of 3 Series MOTs, against 1.1% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is a diesel or petrol 3 Series more reliable?

Petrol 3 Series cars passed 77.7% first time and diesels 74.5%. Against cars of the same age and mileage, petrols were 8.4 points above and diesels 9.4 points above.

Is the 3 Series more reliable than the Mercedes C-Class?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the Mercedes C-Class passed 81.2% first time, +5.2 points against comparable cars. The 3 Series passed 83.4%, +7.2 points.

How we measure

Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025 (31,475,521 first tests on cars first used 2005 to 2022), from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data. Retests are left out.

Passed first time. A car passed if its first test that year ended in a pass. Cars that failed and were fixed within the hour count as fails, as DVSA counts them.

Same age and mileage. We group every car by the year it was first used and its mileage (under 30k, 30–60k, 60–90k, 90–120k, over 120k). The comparison figure is what those groups scored, weighted to match the 3 Series's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a BMW 3 Series: 155 recorded model names, from "3 SERIES" to trims such as "320".

The full method, including how each report-card dot and year group is decided.