BMW 320i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 320i passed 90.6% of its 98,194 MOT tests, covering model years 1980–2025. That is 8.1 percentage points better than the 17.4% fail rate across all BMW 3 Series versions, so the 320i 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 2,270 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.1% in the 0-30k band and 17.4% in the 150k+ band, a 10.3-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 33 | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| 1990 | 38 | 84.2% | 15.8% |
| 2001 | 50 | 76.0% | 24.0% |
| 2002 | 49 | 71.4% | 28.6% |
| 2003 | 74 | 77.0% | 23.0% |
| 2004 | 47 | 76.6% | 23.4% |
| 2005 | 81 | 77.8% | 22.2% |
| 2006 | 122 | 82.8% | 17.2% |
| 2007 | 232 | 77.2% | 22.8% |
| 2008 | 182 | 79.7% | 20.3% |
| 2009 | 177 | 84.2% | 15.8% |
| 2010 | 333 | 82.3% | 17.7% |
| 2011 | 262 | 85.5% | 14.5% |
| 2012 | 244 | 87.7% | 12.3% |
| 2013 | 424 | 89.1% | 10.8% |
| 2014 | 322 | 88.8% | 11.2% |
| 2015 | 331 | 87.6% | 12.4% |
| 2016 | 3,120 | 90.3% | 9.7% |
| 2017 | 16,754 | 91.1% | 8.9% |
| 2018 | 14,549 | 91.7% | 8.3% |
| 2019 | 25,975 | 90.5% | 9.5% |
| 2020 | 17,919 | 89.9% | 10.1% |
| 2021 | 13,275 | 91.2% | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 3,273 | 92.6% | 7.4% |
| 2023 | 161 | 94.4% | 5.6% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 5,629 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 1,936 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.9% | 1,823 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.2% | 1,195 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 734 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 332 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 311 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 257 |
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 | 2,270 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,707 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,621 |
| 4 | Washers | 857 |
| 5 | Wipers | 412 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 341 |
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 | 19.2% | 18,843 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 10,363 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 5,453 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.5% | 2,403 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 2,231 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 874 |
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 | 39,648 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 44,653 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 10,881 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,283 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 548 | 17.7% |
| 150k+ | 172 | 17.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,481 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 14,191 | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 20,429 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 26,486 | 9.7% |
| 2025 | 29,607 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a BMW 320i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (5.7% 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 (2.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.9% 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 320i at MOT time?
90.6% of the 98,194 BMW 320i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate, better than the 17.4% average across all 3 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 320i?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.0%).
Does the 320i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 17.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 98,194 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.