BMW 330i — MOT pass rate & failures
5,857 MOT tests on the BMW 330i (1988–2024) give a 90.1% pass rate. That is 7.5 percentage points better than the 17.4% fail rate across all BMW 3 Series versions, so the 330i is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 108 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.6% in the 0-30k band and 20.2% in the 150k+ band, a 13.6-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.2% in 2021 to 9.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 38 | 81.6% | 18.4% |
| 2001 | 107 | 82.2% | 17.8% |
| 2002 | 95 | 79.0% | 21.1% |
| 2003 | 87 | 77.0% | 23.0% |
| 2004 | 51 | 84.3% | 15.7% |
| 2005 | 71 | 74.7% | 25.4% |
| 2006 | 44 | 72.7% | 27.3% |
| 2007 | 54 | 75.9% | 24.1% |
| 2008 | 60 | 88.3% | 11.7% |
| 2009 | 43 | 86.1% | 14.0% |
| 2011 | 30 | 83.3% | 16.7% |
| 2016 | 329 | 93.3% | 6.7% |
| 2017 | 1,746 | 91.0% | 9.0% |
| 2018 | 454 | 91.6% | 8.4% |
| 2019 | 289 | 89.6% | 10.4% |
| 2020 | 203 | 90.1% | 9.8% |
| 2021 | 1,764 | 91.5% | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 347 | 92.2% | 7.8% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 361 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 142 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.4% | 83 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 79 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.2% | 72 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 29 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 19 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 19 |
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 | 108 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 108 |
| 3 | Washers | 52 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 32 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 28 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 26 |
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 | 17.5% | 1,027 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.7% | 512 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 325 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.2% | 245 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 160 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 147 |
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 | 2,197 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,389 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 773 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 288 | 16.7% |
| 120-150k | 125 | 24.0% |
| 150k+ | 84 | 20.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 618 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 714 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 814 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 1,709 | 9.7% |
| 2025 | 2,002 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a BMW 330i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (6.2% 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 (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.4% 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 330i at MOT time?
90.1% of the 5,857 BMW 330i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate, better than the 17.4% average across all 3 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 330i?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.4%).
Does the 330i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 20.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,857 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.