BMW 316i — MOT pass rate & failures
41,752 MOT tests on the BMW 316i (1980–2023) give a 77.6% pass rate. That is 4.9 percentage points worse than the 17.4% fail rate across all BMW 3 Series versions, so the 316i is a weaker pick within the range. Failures concentrate in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 2,523 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.2% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.9% in 2021 to 20.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 126 | 84.1% | 15.9% |
| 1983 | 216 | 85.7% | 14.3% |
| 1984 | 38 | 81.6% | 18.4% |
| 1985 | 85 | 89.4% | 10.6% |
| 1986 | 187 | 86.6% | 13.4% |
| 1987 | 306 | 81.0% | 18.9% |
| 1988 | 372 | 79.8% | 20.2% |
| 1989 | 675 | 81.6% | 18.4% |
| 1990 | 1,081 | 79.8% | 20.2% |
| 1991 | 523 | 79.3% | 20.6% |
| 1992 | 329 | 77.8% | 22.2% |
| 1993 | 565 | 75.0% | 25.0% |
| 1994 | 712 | 74.4% | 25.6% |
| 1995 | 993 | 76.0% | 24.0% |
| 1996 | 1,318 | 75.3% | 24.7% |
| 1997 | 1,643 | 75.1% | 24.9% |
| 1998 | 1,718 | 75.4% | 24.6% |
| 1999 | 1,908 | 73.8% | 26.2% |
| 2000 | 2,204 | 75.9% | 24.1% |
| 2001 | 2,832 | 74.7% | 25.3% |
| 2002 | 3,218 | 75.7% | 24.3% |
| 2003 | 5,434 | 74.8% | 25.2% |
| 2004 | 5,589 | 72.6% | 27.4% |
| 2005 | 489 | 73.8% | 26.2% |
| 2006 | 34 | 85.3% | 14.7% |
| 2007 | 41 | 85.4% | 14.6% |
| 2010 | 61 | 83.6% | 16.4% |
| 2012 | 51 | 84.3% | 15.7% |
| 2013 | 4,311 | 85.2% | 14.8% |
| 2014 | 3,694 | 86.1% | 13.9% |
| 2015 | 859 | 87.5% | 12.5% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 4,593 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.4% | 3,921 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 3,829 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 2,560 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 2,018 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.2% | 1,768 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 1,374 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.7% | 1,123 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 2,523 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,140 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,540 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,253 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,249 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 1,220 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 33.3% | 13,891 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.4% | 10,205 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.1% | 10,073 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.6% | 9,422 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.1% | 5,869 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 3,893 |
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 | 1,423 | 11.7% |
| 30-60k | 7,161 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 12,438 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 10,715 | 25.3% |
| 120-150k | 6,180 | 26.2% |
| 150k+ | 3,614 | 26.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,366 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 9,390 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 8,060 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 6,876 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 6,060 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a BMW 316i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.4% 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.
- Suspension (9.2% 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 reliable is the BMW 316i at MOT time?
77.6% of the 41,752 BMW 316i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate, worse than the 17.4% average across all 3 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 316i?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by brakes (9.4%).
Does the 316i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.7% in the 0-30k band to 26.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,752 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.