Bmw 202 vs Bmw 3 series: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Bmw 202
60%
MOT pass rate · 2 vehicles
Bmw 3 series
75%
MOT pass rate · 996,044 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Bmw 202 (60%) 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 202 | Bmw 3 series |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 60% | 75% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 40% | 25% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.8 | 2.0 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 2% |
| Average mileage | 32,352 mi | 128,558 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 2 | 996,044 |
Most common faults
Bmw 202
- Horn not working (1.6.2a)
- Nearside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
- Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
- Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
- Oil leak
- corrosion to body
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 202 (60%) and Bmw 3 series (75%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Bmw 202 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.