2007 BMW 3 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 181,353 MOT tests, the 2007 BMW 3 Series recorded a 78.7% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 23.1% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.7%) and brakes (8.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, shock absorbers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 8,929 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.4% versus 8.9%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 20.9% of the time against 21.8% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 17,627 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 14,551 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.9% | 14,364 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.8% | 12,327 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 8,067 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 7,120 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 8,929 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 8,125 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 7,330 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 6,547 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 5,848 |
| 6 | Washers | 5,183 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 38.0% | 68,966 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.1% | 50,921 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.4% | 49,705 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 28,320 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.8% | 17,730 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 13,985 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,018 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 8,376 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 27,975 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 48,694 | 21.2% |
| 120-150k | 46,001 | 22.6% |
| 150k+ | 49,206 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 94,120 | 21.8% |
| Petrol | 87,224 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 45,206 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 41,508 | 21.4% |
| 2023 | 36,724 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 31,548 | 21.8% |
| 2025 | 26,367 | 21.1% |
What to check before buying a 2007 3 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (7.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2007 BMW 3 Seriess pass their MOT?
78.7% of the 181,353 2007 BMW 3 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 BMW 3 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by brakes (8.0%).
Does the 2007 3 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 181,353 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.