2013 BMW M3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 BMW M3 passed 92.6% of its 2,473 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 16.9% of the time, so this is 9.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.4%) and lighting & signalling (2.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and service brake performance — tread depth alone was recorded 31 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 M3 fails 4.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.2% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.0 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.4% | 83 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 58 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 35 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 33 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.2% | 30 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 15 |
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 | 31 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 26 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 25 |
| 5 | Washers | 25 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 17 |
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 | 15.5% | 384 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 247 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.8% | 68 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.7% | 67 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 50 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 34 |
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 | 406 | 4.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,311 | 7.5% |
| 60-90k | 639 | 9.4% |
| 90-120k | 97 | 6.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 546 | 7.7% |
| 2022 | 495 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 493 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 472 | 7.4% |
| 2025 | 467 | 6.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 M3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.4% 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
How many 2013 BMW M3s pass their MOT?
92.6% of the 2,473 2013 BMW M3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 BMW M3?
Tyres, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.4%).
Does the 2013 M3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.2% in the 0-30k band to 6.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,473 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.