Bmw 116i vs Bmw 3 series: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Bmw 116i
76%
MOT pass rate · 78 vehicles
Bmw 3 series
75%
MOT pass rate · 996,044 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Bmw 116i (76%) and Bmw 3 series (75%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Bmw 116i | Bmw 3 series |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 76% ✓ | 75% |
| MOT failure rate | 24% ✓ | 25% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.9 ✓ | 2.0 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 4% | 2% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 84,171 mi | 128,558 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 78 | 996,044 |
Most common faults
Bmw 116i
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))
Bmw 3 series
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Bmw 116i (76%) and Bmw 3 series (75%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Bmw 116i report Full Bmw 3 series report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.