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Bmw 3 series vs Bmw Active hybrid se: 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 Active hybrid se
86%
MOT pass rate · 37 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Bmw Active hybrid se is the more reliable of the two — 86% pass first time versus 75%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.

Head to head

Measure Bmw 3 series Bmw Active hybrid se
MOT pass rate 75% 86% ✓
MOT failure rate 25% 14% ✓
Faults & advisories per test 2.0 0.9 ✓
Dangerous-fault share 2% ✓ 4%
Average mileage 128,558 mi 88,899 mi
Sample size (vehicles) 996,044 37

Most common faults

Bmw 3 series

  1. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  2. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  3. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  4. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  5. Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
  6. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Bmw Active hybrid se

  1. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
  2. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
  3. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
  4. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  5. Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
  6. Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Reliability FAQ

On MOT pass rate, the Bmw Active hybrid se is the more reliable of the two — 86% pass first time versus 75%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.

Full Bmw 3 series report Full Bmw Active hybrid se 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.