Bmw 316 vs Bmw M3: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Bmw 316
69%
MOT pass rate · 157,337 vehicles
Bmw M3
81%
MOT pass rate · 35,082 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Bmw M3 is the more reliable of the two — 81% pass first time versus 69%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Bmw 316 | Bmw M3 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 69% | 81% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 31% | 19% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.3 | 1.3 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% | 1% |
| Average mileage | 124,177 mi | 92,595 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 157,337 | 35,082 |
Most common faults
Bmw 316
- Oil leak
- 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)
- Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
- Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
- Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Bmw M3
- 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
- Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Bmw M3 is the more reliable of the two — 81% pass first time versus 69%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Bmw 316 report Full Bmw M3 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.