BMW 320d — MOT pass rate & failures
132,803 MOT tests on the BMW 320d (1999–2025) give an 89.5% pass rate. That is 6.9 percentage points better than the 17.4% fail rate across all BMW 3 Series versions, so the 320d is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 3,957 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.8% in the 0-30k band and 17.7% in the 150k+ band, a 11.0-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 38 | 79.0% | 21.1% |
| 2004 | 65 | 75.4% | 24.6% |
| 2005 | 142 | 69.7% | 30.3% |
| 2006 | 237 | 73.4% | 26.6% |
| 2007 | 218 | 78.0% | 22.0% |
| 2008 | 193 | 79.8% | 20.2% |
| 2009 | 238 | 77.3% | 22.7% |
| 2010 | 276 | 75.4% | 24.6% |
| 2011 | 359 | 78.8% | 21.2% |
| 2012 | 622 | 79.7% | 20.3% |
| 2013 | 652 | 84.8% | 15.2% |
| 2014 | 769 | 84.3% | 15.7% |
| 2015 | 976 | 87.1% | 12.9% |
| 2016 | 14,731 | 89.2% | 10.8% |
| 2017 | 61,062 | 89.8% | 10.2% |
| 2018 | 35,850 | 90.3% | 9.8% |
| 2019 | 5,337 | 90.1% | 9.9% |
| 2020 | 5,194 | 89.1% | 10.9% |
| 2021 | 4,862 | 89.1% | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 899 | 89.2% | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 48 | 89.6% | 10.4% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 7,781 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 3,527 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.1% | 2,778 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 2,178 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 1,675 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 908 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 730 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.3% | 363 |
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 | 3,957 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,504 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2,151 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,542 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 1,082 |
| 6 | Wipers | 768 |
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 | 21.4% | 28,442 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 17,809 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 8,781 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.1% | 6,708 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 4,420 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 2,867 |
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 | 16,977 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 54,341 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 38,178 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 15,377 | 13.3% |
| 120-150k | 5,143 | 15.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,774 | 17.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,921 | 9.0% |
| 2022 | 24,754 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 26,495 | 10.4% |
| 2024 | 28,617 | 11.5% |
| 2025 | 29,016 | 11.7% |
What to check before buying a BMW 320d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.1% 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 320d at MOT time?
89.5% of the 132,803 BMW 320d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate, better than the 17.4% average across all 3 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 320d?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.7%).
Does the 320d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 17.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 132,803 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.