2013 BMW 3 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
207,466 MOT tests on the 2013 BMW 3 Series are in this dataset, and 83.6% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 17.0%, so the 2013 3 Series sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.3%) and tyres (6.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 8,241 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.2% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.8pp more often than petrol ones (17.0% vs 14.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 19,233 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.6% | 13,610 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 9,219 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.7% | 7,707 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 5,052 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 1,983 |
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 | 8,241 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 7,592 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 7,354 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 4,935 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 4,656 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 3,905 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.9% | 51,730 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 38,538 |
| 3 | Other defects | 14.9% | 30,875 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.8% | 22,444 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 8,787 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 5,211 |
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 | 3,392 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 29,089 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 63,201 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 58,633 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 33,156 | 19.0% |
| 150k+ | 19,960 | 20.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 165,731 | 17.0% |
| Petrol | 41,509 | 14.1% |
| Hybrid | 222 | 9.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 42,343 | 14.4% |
| 2022 | 42,248 | 15.5% |
| 2023 | 41,791 | 16.3% |
| 2024 | 41,152 | 17.8% |
| 2025 | 39,932 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 3 Series
On a 2013 3 Series, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (4.4% 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 2013 BMW 3 Seriess pass their MOT?
83.6% of the 207,466 2013 BMW 3 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 BMW 3 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by tyres (6.6%).
Does the 2013 3 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 20.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 207,466 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.