RegVerdict Model Intelligence
BMW 3 Series reliability
MOT pass rates & common faults·674,213 DVSA tests·2024
Across 674,213 real DVSA MOT tests in 2024, 70% of BMW 3 Series cars aged 13 years and older pass their MOT first time, ahead of the 61% average for all cars of that age. It holds up especially well on steering and body & structure.
70%
Strong for its agepass first time (13 years and older)
Strong for its age · beats 68% of peers
+9.2 pts
MOT pass rate by age
4 to 7 years
56,144 tests · fleet 85%
89%
8 to 12 years
265,857 tests · fleet 73%
79%
13 years and older
352,212 tests · fleet 61%
70%
Where the 3 Series fails
Suspension94
Brakes94
Body & structure99
Steering99
Tyres96
Lights & electrics93
Holds up better on steering, body & structure, lights & electrics.
Share of 13 years and older BMW 3 Series MOTs with no fault in each area; the marker shows the fleet average. OGL v3.0.
How it tends to age
How the BMW 3 Series tends to age
The MOT areas flagged most often on BMW 3 Series models 13 years and older. It is the model’s typical pattern across millions of tests, not a forecast for this specific car.
- Lights & electrics · flagged on ~7% of MOTsGrows with age
- Brakes · flagged on ~6% of MOTsGrows with age
- Suspension · flagged on ~6% of MOTsGrows with age
- Tyres · flagged on ~4% of MOTs
Common questions
Is the BMW 3 Series reliable?
On 2024 MOT data the BMW 3 Series holds up well for its age: 70% of examples aged 13 years and older pass first time, against a 61% fleet average. That puts it ahead of 68% of similar-age models.
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 3 Series?
First-time MOT pass rates for the BMW 3 Series in 2024: 4 to 7 years, 89%; 8 to 12 years, 79%; and 13 years and older, 70%. Pass rates fall with age across the whole fleet, so compare each figure with cars of the same age, not with a new car.
What commonly fails on a BMW 3 Series MOT?
No single area stands out as a recurring weakness for the BMW 3 Series versus other cars of the same age. Its MOT failures are spread across the usual wear items (tyres, brakes, lamps).
Other BMW models
Check a BMW 3 Series’s full history