BMW X3: lighting & signalling MOT failures
Lighting & signalling was recorded as a failure area in 6.0% of BMW X3 MOT tests — 33,687 tests out of 556,814. It shows up most on 2006 and 2012 cars.
Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair cost: £10–£150 (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Lighting & signalling failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 16,570 | 10.9% |
| 2005 | 19,415 | 11.5% |
| 2006 | 22,474 | 11.8% |
| 2007 | 16,190 | 10.9% |
| 2008 | 10,378 | 9.1% |
| 2009 | 8,833 | 7.9% |
| 2010 | 5,635 | 7.0% |
| 2011 | 24,544 | 9.2% |
| 2012 | 41,947 | 13.0% |
| 2013 | 43,398 | 11.7% |
| 2014 | 36,470 | 8.0% |
| 2015 | 40,826 | 4.6% |
| 2016 | 51,918 | 3.5% |
| 2017 | 45,544 | 2.9% |
| 2018 | 44,791 | 1.7% |
| 2019 | 69,901 | 1.3% |
| 2020 | 25,329 | 1.1% |
| 2021 | 23,945 | 1.6% |
| 2022 | 8,385 | 1.4% |
| 2023 | 302 | 1.7% |
Methodology & source. 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.