2023 BMW 3 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 670 MOT tests, the 2023 BMW 3 Series recorded a 90.8% pass rate. That is 3.3 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 5.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests against 1.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 8 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.4% versus 5.4%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.6% | 44 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.8% | 12 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 9 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.6% | 4 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 3 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.3% | 2 |
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 | 8 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 3 | Washers | 6 |
| 4 | Wipers | 5 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 3 |
| 6 | Windscreen | 3 |
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 | 14.8% | 99 |
| 2 | Other defects | 3.3% | 22 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.6% | 11 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.2% | 8 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 8 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 4 |
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 | 349 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 242 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 55 | 16.4% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 392 | 11.2% |
| Petrol | 178 | 5.1% |
| Diesel | 100 | 9.0% |
What to check before buying a 2023 3 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.6% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Visibility (1.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2023 BMW 3 Seriess pass their MOT?
90.8% of the 670 2023 BMW 3 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 BMW 3 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by visibility (1.8%).
Does the 2023 3 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 670 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.