What year BMW 3 Series is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2021 BMW 3 Series has the highest pass rate at 92.9%, out of 365 vehicles tested.

What are the most common BMW 3 Series MOT failures?

The most common BMW 3 Series MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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BMW 3 Series — Reliability by Year

984,669 vehicles · MOT data 1981–2021 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the BMW 3 Series was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year

2021

92.9% pass rate · 365 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1993

64.9% pass rate · 17,390 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2021	92.9%	31,032 mi	365
2020	90.4%	37,216 mi	3,101
2019	89.9%	40,371 mi	11,500
2018	90.1%	44,565 mi	8,619
2017	89.9%	51,884 mi	3,797
2016	89.1%	58,424 mi	26,098
2015	87.6%	63,459 mi	32,639
2014	85.3%	70,518 mi	33,688
2013	84.0%	73,281 mi	38,247
2012	81.7%	77,770 mi	39,644
2011	81.8%	86,570 mi	38,588
2010	81.1%	86,774 mi	37,936
2009	80.0%	82,527 mi	34,888
2008	79.9%	86,225 mi	43,527
2007	79.8%	88,016 mi	54,079
2006	79.7%	90,527 mi	46,601
2005	77.8%	92,869 mi	40,061
2004	74.9%	91,031 mi	41,910
2003	74.9%	88,400 mi	53,360
2002	73.8%	92,353 mi	55,623
2001	71.1%	96,980 mi	49,430
2000	70.0%	100,471 mi	42,983
1999	69.3%	103,408 mi	39,802
1998	68.3%	107,766 mi	27,600
1997	67.9%	112,330 mi	27,458
1996	67.0%	114,772 mi	27,742
1995	66.0%	119,194 mi	25,874
1994	65.6%	125,277 mi	19,869
1993	64.9%	125,832 mi	17,390
1992	65.9%	129,293 mi	15,437
1991	67.0%	128,658 mi	13,265
1990	67.8%	125,977 mi	10,184
1989	67.6%	127,118 mi	9,562
1988	67.8%	124,204 mi	5,758
1987	66.7%	121,481 mi	3,520
1986	65.6%	116,778 mi	2,127
1985	65.7%	109,978 mi	972
1984	65.9%	107,824 mi	613
1983	67.4%	100,393 mi	249
1982	70.0%	97,756 mi	352
1981	68.2%	90,851 mi	211

Which year BMW 3 Series is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests. Green = noticeably above average for this model; red = noticeably below average.

Tests range from an average of 31,032 miles (newest year) to 129,293 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a BMW 3 Series.

See the buying guide →

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