2016 BMW M3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 BMW M3 passed 90.9% of its 4,215 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (12.7% fail rate), the 2016 M3 comes out 3.6pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and suspension (2.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, registration plates and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 115 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 M3 fails 6.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.6% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 13.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 9.4% in 2021 to 7.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 194 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.8% | 118 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.1% | 46 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 45 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.0% | 43 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.7% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 115 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 69 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 60 |
| 4 | Washers | 36 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 35 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
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 | 13.0% | 546 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.5% | 232 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.8% | 162 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 81 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 76 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 47 |
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 | 1,055 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,333 | 9.7% |
| 60-90k | 747 | 10.7% |
| 90-120k | 71 | 5.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 906 | 9.4% |
| 2022 | 877 | 9.6% |
| 2023 | 827 | 8.6% |
| 2024 | 817 | 9.9% |
| 2025 | 788 | 7.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 M3
On a 2016 M3, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.6% 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.
- Suspension (2.8% 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.
- Other defects (1.1% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 2016 BMW M3s pass their MOT?
90.9% of the 4,215 2016 BMW M3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 BMW M3?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by suspension (2.8%).
Does the 2016 M3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 5.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,215 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.