2017 BMW X3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 45,544 MOT tests, the 2017 BMW X3 recorded an 89.4% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (11.8% fail rate), the 2017 X3 comes out 1.2pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.0%) and lighting & signalling (2.9%) 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 brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 1,048 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 17.1% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 2,272 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 1,338 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.2% | 1,009 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 932 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 922 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 239 |
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 | 1,048 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 989 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 929 |
| 4 | Wipers | 747 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 706 |
| 6 | Washers | 404 |
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 | 20.1% | 9,172 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.0% | 6,384 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.3% | 3,312 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 1,844 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,502 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 734 |
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 | 7,175 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 23,202 | 9.7% |
| 60-90k | 12,008 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,619 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 414 | 15.2% |
| 150k+ | 88 | 17.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,167 | 7.8% |
| 2022 | 8,986 | 9.2% |
| 2023 | 9,060 | 11.1% |
| 2024 | 9,176 | 12.1% |
| 2025 | 9,155 | 12.8% |
What to check before buying a 2017 X3
On a 2017 X3, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.0% 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 (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.2% 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 many 2017 BMW X3s pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 45,544 2017 BMW X3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 BMW X3?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.9%).
Does the 2017 X3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 17.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 45,544 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.