Bmw 3 series vs Bmw 328i: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Bmw 3 series
75%
MOT pass rate · 996,044 vehicles
Bmw 328i
74%
MOT pass rate · 251 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Bmw 3 series (75%) and Bmw 328i (74%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Bmw 3 series | Bmw 328i |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 75% ✓ | 74% |
| MOT failure rate | 25% ✓ | 26% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.0 | 0.1 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 2% ✓ | 20% |
| Average mileage | 128,558 mi | 86,646 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 996,044 | 251 |
Most common faults
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))
Bmw 328i
- Nearside Rear Outer Nail in tyre screw in outer section of treaded area 255/35zr18 Michelin
- Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))
- 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))
- Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Bmw 3 series (75%) and Bmw 328i (74%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Bmw 3 series report Full Bmw 328i 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.