2020 BMW 3 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 75,041 MOT tests, the 2020 BMW 3 Series recorded an 89.1% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 10.0%, so the 2020 3 Series sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.6% of all tests — 5.9 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 2,004 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.2% in the 0-30k band and 15.8% in the 150k+ band, a 6.6-point spread.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (11.6% vs 10.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.6% | 5,713 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 1,300 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.2% | 923 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 761 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 604 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 368 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 2,004 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,349 |
| 3 | Washers | 658 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 635 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 509 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 338 |
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 | 19.9% | 14,927 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.4% | 4,064 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.0% | 3,762 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 1,859 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 1,269 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 519 |
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 | 24,942 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 36,423 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 10,847 | 12.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,320 | 13.8% |
| 120-150k | 392 | 14.5% |
| 150k+ | 114 | 15.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 29,870 | 11.6% |
| Petrol | 26,286 | 10.0% |
| Diesel | 18,885 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 144 | 8.3% |
| 2022 | 1,239 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 25,682 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 24,567 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 23,409 | 10.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 3 Series
On a 2020 3 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2020 BMW 3 Seriess pass their MOT?
89.1% of the 75,041 2020 BMW 3 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 BMW 3 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.7%).
Does the 2020 3 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 15.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 75,041 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.