MOT reliability
Bmw M3
35,082 vehicles · 435,893 completed MOT tests analysed
81%
MOT pass rate
Based on 35,082 Bmw M3 vehicles and 435,893 completed MOT tests, the Bmw M3 has an overall 81% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 92,595 miles.
35,082
Vehicles
435,893
MOT tests
4,820
Avg miles / year
1.3
Faults per test
1%
Dangerous-fault share
Bmw M3 problem areas
Where faults occur most across all Bmw M3 MOT tests:
-
Other86%
-
Tyres, wheels & suspension13%
-
Brakes12%
-
Emissions & nuisance4%
-
Lamps & electrical3%
-
Seatbelts & equipment2%
-
Visibility2%
-
Steering1%
Bmw M3 pass rate by age
How the Bmw M3's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).
| Age (years) | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | 88% |
| 2 | 1,724 | 93% |
| 3 | 24,887 | 86% |
| 4 | 27,752 | 85% |
| 5 | 28,328 | 83% |
| 6 | 27,978 | 82% |
| 7 | 28,290 | 81% |
| 8 | 28,563 | 80% |
| 9 | 27,836 | 80% |
| 10 | 27,302 | 79% |
| 11 | 26,766 | 78% |
| 12 | 25,426 | 78% |
| 13 | 23,721 | 78% |
| 14 | 21,382 | 78% |
| 15 | 18,579 | 79% |
| 16 | 16,413 | 79% |
| 17 | 14,272 | 80% |
| 18 | 12,459 | 80% |
| 19 | 10,886 | 81% |
| 20 | 9,925 | 81% |
Fuel types: Petrol (34,716), Other (331), Diesel (30), LPG (4), Gas (1)
Most common Bmw M3 MOT faults
These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Bmw M3 MOT tests:
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (17,657 times)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (17,432 times)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (10,907 times)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (9,981 times)
- Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (8,992 times)
- Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (7,528 times)
- Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (7,251 times)
- Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) (5,587 times)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (5,558 times)
- Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay (5,500 times)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (5,390 times)
- Oil leak (5,236 times)
- Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) (5,025 times)
- Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) (4,738 times)
- Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i) (4,673 times)
Bmw M3 pass rate by registration year
| Year | Vehicles | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 1,773 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | 100% | 129,810 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 14,667 |
| 2023 | 6 | 6 | 100% | 10,141 |
| 2022 | 3 | 6 | 83% | 24,523 |
| 2021 | 7 | 11 | 91% | 31,256 |
| 2019 | 8 | 34 | 94% | 42,456 |
| 2018 | 882 | 5,354 | 91% | 43,873 |
| 2017 | 1,089 | 7,459 | 90% | 48,140 |
| 2016 | 867 | 6,601 | 90% | 53,160 |
| 2015 | 669 | 5,516 | 90% | 60,100 |
| 2014 | 288 | 2,590 | 89% | 65,991 |
| 2013 | 580 | 5,912 | 90% | 55,005 |
| 2012 | 776 | 8,634 | 90% | 59,524 |
| 2011 | 939 | 11,089 | 89% | 67,370 |
| 2010 | 903 | 11,323 | 88% | 72,744 |
| 2009 | 1,084 | 13,933 | 88% | 75,978 |
| 2008 | 1,996 | 26,266 | 87% | 79,061 |
| 2007 | 825 | 11,314 | 86% | 86,993 |
| 2006 | 605 | 9,712 | 82% | 86,761 |
| 2005 | 1,761 | 30,288 | 81% | 93,305 |
| 2004 | 2,857 | 50,057 | 80% | 97,834 |
| 2003 | 4,642 | 80,328 | 79% | 100,959 |
| 2002 | 3,541 | 58,335 | 77% | 107,065 |
| 2001 | 1,248 | 17,829 | 77% | 109,322 |
| 2000 | 32 | 413 | 80% | 98,040 |
| 1999 | 488 | 6,582 | 74% | 96,975 |
| 1998 | 1,156 | 13,204 | 75% | 103,564 |
| 1997 | 1,147 | 12,856 | 74% | 116,155 |
| 1996 | 1,208 | 12,388 | 73% | 115,644 |
| 1995 | 1,118 | 10,467 | 71% | 118,944 |
| 1994 | 697 | 5,982 | 71% | 121,434 |
| 1993 | 179 | 1,205 | 70% | 127,245 |
| 1992 | 60 | 434 | 80% | 114,510 |
| 1991 | 94 | 837 | 81% | 140,209 |
| 1990 | 240 | 1,973 | 84% | 135,161 |
| 1989 | 242 | 1,877 | 85% | 130,344 |
| 1988 | 194 | 1,491 | 83% | 129,228 |
| 1987 | 212 | 1,475 | 80% | 147,939 |
| 1986 | 38 | 238 | 84% | 117,900 |
| 1985 | 1 | 3 | 100% | 90,651 |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 1 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 20,642 |
| 1973 | 1 | 2 | 50% | 34,301 |
| 1971 | 5 | 31 | 65% | 132,172 |
Bmw M3 reliability FAQ
Across 35,082 Bmw M3 vehicles in our MOT data,
81% pass the MOT (a 19% failure rate), with about
1.3 faults or advisories recorded per test.
The most frequently recorded Bmw M3 MOT issues are:
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).
The typical Bmw M3 in our data has covered around
92,595 miles.
Compare the Bmw M3
See how the Bmw M3 stacks up against other Bmw models on MOT reliability:
Check a specific Bmw M3
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