2009 BMW 3 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 BMW 3 Series passed 78.0% of its 153,968 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (21.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.9%) and suspension (9.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, position lamp and headlamp aim — shock absorbers alone was recorded 10,241 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.1% versus 11.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.9% fail against 22.7% for diesel, a 1.8-point gap across 153,968 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.6% 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 | 9.9% | 15,213 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.1% | 13,962 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 11,645 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.9% | 10,666 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 5,895 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 5,265 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 10,241 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 6,859 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 6,431 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 6,299 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 4,281 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 4,107 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 28.6% | 44,066 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.4% | 43,757 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.5% | 42,368 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.9% | 13,658 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 10,430 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 9,114 |
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 | 1,454 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 9,976 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 30,622 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 44,990 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 36,777 | 23.6% |
| 150k+ | 30,107 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 93,851 | 22.7% |
| Petrol | 60,117 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34,996 | 21.4% |
| 2022 | 33,643 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 31,648 | 22.2% |
| 2024 | 28,477 | 22.6% |
| 2025 | 25,204 | 22.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 3 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.1% 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.
- Brakes (7.6% 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.
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 2009 BMW 3 Seriess pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 153,968 2009 BMW 3 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 BMW 3 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.9% of tests, followed by suspension (9.1%).
Does the 2009 3 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 153,968 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.