What year BMW 316i is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 1990 BMW 316i has the highest pass rate at 90.7%, out of 2,656 vehicles tested.

What are the most common BMW 316i MOT failures?

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

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BMW 316i — Reliability by Year

9,393 vehicles · MOT data 1988–1998 · first-test pass rates

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

1990

90.7% pass rate · 2,656 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1998

63.2% pass rate · 176 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
1998	63.2%	108,106 mi	176
1997	76.2%	97,414 mi	215
1996	81.2%	159,906 mi	318
1995	87.9%	139,889 mi	379
1991	—	—	554
1990	90.7%	95,539 mi	2,656
1989	81.3%	75,838 mi	4,430
1988	83.3%	164,128 mi	665

Which year BMW 316i 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 75,838 miles (newest year) to 164,128 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 316i.

See the buying guide →

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