What year BMW 316 is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2018 BMW 316 has the highest pass rate at 89.4%, out of 368 vehicles tested.

What are the most common BMW 316 MOT failures?

The most common BMW 316 MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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BMW 316 — Reliability by Year

150,017 vehicles · MOT data 1980–2018 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the BMW 316 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

2018

89.4% pass rate · 368 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1981

54.5% pass rate · 3,664 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2018	89.4%	55,908 mi	368
2017	89.1%	65,002 mi	828
2016	85.1%	77,030 mi	629
2015	84.2%	76,334 mi	831
2014	83.1%	67,343 mi	1,774
2013	83.6%	66,300 mi	1,515
2012	79.9%	85,658 mi	638
2011	81.4%	99,716 mi	474
2010	80.5%	105,591 mi	613
2009	78.6%	101,083 mi	234
2005	74.1%	69,560 mi	477
2004	73.8%	70,235 mi	6,638
2003	74.5%	73,299 mi	7,769
2002	73.2%	79,597 mi	8,062
2001	70.7%	86,560 mi	7,122
2000	69.4%	92,997 mi	8,116
1999	68.2%	95,266 mi	6,018
1998	67.4%	100,032 mi	6,558
1997	66.6%	104,378 mi	7,964
1996	66.0%	106,926 mi	8,515
1995	65.3%	111,744 mi	8,809
1994	65.2%	119,289 mi	5,750
1993	64.8%	120,357 mi	4,317
1992	64.6%	127,398 mi	3,858
1991	65.9%	122,104 mi	2,352
1990	66.8%	117,055 mi	2,355
1989	67.1%	122,232 mi	2,003
1988	65.2%	115,839 mi	5,688
1987	65.9%	113,281 mi	6,698
1986	65.3%	104,785 mi	5,759
1985	67.9%	90,243 mi	4,943
1984	66.3%	93,570 mi	3,152
1983	68.7%	101,628 mi	7,113
1982	68.9%	88,290 mi	6,192
1981	54.5%	83,649 mi	3,664
1980	66.4%	65,372 mi	2,221

Which year BMW 316 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 55,908 miles (newest year) to 127,398 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 316.

See the buying guide →

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