Bmw 3 series vs Bmw R 1250 gs: 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 R 1250 gs
96%
MOT pass rate · 65 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Bmw 3 series (75%) and Bmw R 1250 gs (96%) 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 R 1250 gs |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 75% | 96% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 25% | 4% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.0 | 0.2 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 2% ✓ | 10% |
| Average mileage | 128,558 mi | 13,852 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 996,044 | 65 |
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 R 1250 gs
- Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))
- Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (1.1.13 (a))
- Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (5.2.3 (e))
- Front Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (5.2.3 (e))
- Rear Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))
- Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Bmw 3 series (75%) and Bmw R 1250 gs (96%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Bmw 3 series report Full Bmw R 1250 gs 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.