BMW 316d — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 316d passed 84.2% of its 28,883 MOT tests, covering model years 1982–2021. That is 1.6 percentage points better than the 17.4% fail rate across all BMW 3 Series versions, so the 316d is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and position lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 1,392 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.8% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 859 | 74.7% | 25.3% |
| 2010 | 2,008 | 79.1% | 20.9% |
| 2011 | 1,495 | 79.9% | 20.1% |
| 2012 | 2,810 | 79.6% | 20.4% |
| 2013 | 3,328 | 82.9% | 17.1% |
| 2014 | 5,456 | 83.5% | 16.6% |
| 2015 | 3,331 | 85.6% | 14.4% |
| 2016 | 2,946 | 86.5% | 13.5% |
| 2017 | 4,349 | 89.1% | 10.9% |
| 2018 | 2,022 | 89.9% | 10.1% |
| 2019 | 190 | 91.0% | 8.9% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 2,882 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.9% | 1,716 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.7% | 1,360 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.5% | 1,023 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 898 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 361 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 266 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 235 |
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 | 1,392 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,183 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,116 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 802 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 741 |
| 6 | Washers | 673 |
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 | 26.0% | 7,517 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.4% | 5,887 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.1% | 3,496 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.8% | 3,418 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 1,335 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 1,303 |
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 | 676 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 4,487 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 7,757 | 13.9% |
| 90-120k | 7,609 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 4,971 | 19.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,372 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,239 | 14.7% |
| 2022 | 6,090 | 15.5% |
| 2023 | 5,828 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 5,545 | 16.4% |
| 2025 | 5,181 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a BMW 316d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.9% 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.
- Brakes (4.7% 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 reliable is the BMW 316d at MOT time?
84.2% of the 28,883 BMW 316d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.8% fail rate, better than the 17.4% average across all 3 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 316d?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by tyres (5.9%).
Does the 316d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,883 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.