Bmw 3 series vs Bmw 520i m sport pro auto: 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 520i m sport pro auto
93%
MOT pass rate · 1,525 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Bmw 3 series (75%) and Bmw 520i m sport pro auto (93%) 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 520i m sport pro auto |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 75% | 93% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 25% | 7% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.0 | 0.2 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 2% ✓ | 17% |
| Average mileage | 128,558 mi | 22,715 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 996,044 | 1,525 |
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 520i m sport pro auto
- Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))
- Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))
- Stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes are released (4.3.2 (a) (iii))
- Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge on limit (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge on limit (5.2.3 (e))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Bmw 3 series (75%) and Bmw 520i m sport pro auto (93%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Bmw 3 series report Full Bmw 520i m sport pro auto 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.