Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 BMW 316?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 BMW 316?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 BMW 316?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2013 BMW 316 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 BMW 316 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,515 vehicles, the 2013 BMW 316 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 BMW 316?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 BMW 316 are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (56.1% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (54% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (40.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 BMW 316?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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BMW 316 (2013)

1,515 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.6% first-time pass rate

2013 BMW 316

CarHunch analysed 1,515 real MOT records for the 2013 BMW 316. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 BMW 316 passes its MOT on the first attempt 83.5% of the time, which is marginally better than the UK average of 80%, but the headline concern is that 38.8% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above typical—suggesting electrical or brake system issues are a real risk. Petrol models perform slightly better at 84.1% than diesels at 82.7%, but the difference is minimal.

These cars are averaging 68,824 miles, which is reasonable for age, yet they're accumulating 12 advisories per test on average, indicating that while they may pass, they're developing niggles steadily. If you're considering one, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically flags brake, electrical, and suspension components, and budget for ongoing maintenance—the 1.95 average failures per vehicle tells you the second test often catches what the first missed.

The 2013 BMW 316 has a decent first-time pass rate (83.6%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

83.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

38.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.95

Over 10.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

55k

Middle half: 42k–69k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 12 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,515 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,515 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 56.1%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 40.3%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 24.4%

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) · Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 20%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Lighting 14.4%

Offside Front Position lamp not working · Nearside Front Position lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,515 BMW 316 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.6 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

84.3%

Petrol

834 vehicles

82.7%

Diesel

681 vehicles

Before you buy a 2013 BMW 316

Based on MOT data from 1,515 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 38.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (55%)	834	84.3%	1.9
Diesel (45%)	681	82.7%	2.03

Colour Breakdown

Based on 155,615 BMW 316 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 20.6%

32,075

Black 18.7%

29,126

Red 18.2%

28,273

Silver 14.5%

22,636

White 10.1%

15,777

Green 9.7%

15,133

Grey 4.4%

6,869

Bronze 1%

1,567

Beige 0.8%

1,186

Gold 0.7%

1,076

Brown 0.6%

965

Purple 0.6%

932

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 BMW 316 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

55,433

typical

42,260

low mileage

68,944

high mileage

Half of all 2013 BMW 316 vehicles fall between 42,260 and 68,944 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 42,260 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 42,260–68,944 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 BMW 316s sit.

⚠ Over 93,074 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 BMW 316 — Still on the Road

Most 2013 BMW 316s are still being driven.

Strong survival — 1,181 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 82% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

10.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.95

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 316: All 316 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2013 BMW 316 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing