BMW 330e — MOT pass rate & failures
122,723 MOT tests on the BMW 330e (2009–2025) give an 88.6% pass rate. That is 6.1 percentage points better than the 17.4% fail rate across all BMW 3 Series versions, so the 330e is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 3,639 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.6% in the 0-30k band and 13.7% in the 150k+ band, a 4.1-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,261 | 89.0% | 11.0% |
| 2017 | 22,904 | 89.4% | 10.6% |
| 2018 | 16,292 | 89.7% | 10.3% |
| 2019 | 17,962 | 89.0% | 11.0% |
| 2020 | 29,555 | 88.3% | 11.7% |
| 2021 | 24,524 | 87.9% | 12.1% |
| 2022 | 7,861 | 87.0% | 13.0% |
| 2023 | 328 | 87.8% | 12.2% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.0% | 9,820 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 2,418 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.5% | 1,890 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.1% | 1,381 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.7% | 815 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 625 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 465 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 444 |
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 | 3,639 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,261 |
| 3 | Washers | 1,254 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 816 |
| 5 | Wipers | 768 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 543 |
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 | 22.6% | 27,694 |
| 2 | Other defects | 6.4% | 7,896 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.6% | 5,698 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 4,203 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.4% | 4,197 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 1,416 |
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 | 20,942 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 55,987 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 32,128 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 10,472 | 12.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,483 | 13.0% |
| 150k+ | 707 | 13.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,267 | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 13,943 | 10.7% |
| 2023 | 23,852 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 34,900 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 40,761 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a BMW 330e
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (8.0% 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.
- Visibility (1.5% 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.
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 330e at MOT time?
88.6% of the 122,723 BMW 330e MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate, better than the 17.4% average across all 3 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 330e?
Tyres, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.0%).
Does the 330e get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 13.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 122,723 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.