BMW M3 Competition M MOT pass rate & common failures
1,252 MOT tests on the BMW M3 Competition M (2021–2023) give it a 95.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (8.1% fail rate), the M3 Competition M comes out 3.5pp better. Its most common failure areas are tyres, other defects and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.5%) and other defects (1.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, catalyst emissions and tread depth — registration plates alone was recorded 24 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every M3 Competition M model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 411 | 96.1% | 3.9% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 762 | 94.6% | 5.4% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 79 | 98.7% | 1.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.5% | 31 |
| 2 | Other defects | 1.2% | 15 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 9 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.5% | 6 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 6 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 5 |
| 7 | Suspension | 0.2% | 3 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.2% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 24 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 10 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 10 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 5 | Washers | 4 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 4 |
| 7 | Side repeaters | 2 |
| 8 | Shock absorbers | 2 |
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 | 11.1% | 139 |
| 2 | Other defects | 3.3% | 41 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.4% | 17 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 9 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 6 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 5 |
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 | 986 | 4.4% |
| 30-60k | 261 | 5.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 245 | 4.1% |
| 2025 | 1,002 | 4.8% |
What to check before buying a BMW M3 Competition M
- Tyres (2.5% 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.
- Other defects (1.2% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- Emissions & environmental (0.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW M3 Competition M?
95.4% of the 1,252 BMW M3 Competition M MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 4.6% fail rate, across model years 2021–2023.
What does the BMW M3 Competition M most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 2.5% of tests, then other defects (1.2%).
Methodology & source. Based on 1,252 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.