Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 BMW 320?

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 2016 BMW 320?

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 2016 BMW 320?

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 2016 BMW 320 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% 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 2016 BMW 320 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,409 vehicles, the 2016 BMW 320 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 BMW 320?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 BMW 320 are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (35% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (34.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (25.5% 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 2016 BMW 320?

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 320 (2016)

3,409 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.3% first-time pass rate

2016 BMW 320

CarHunch analysed 3,409 real MOT records for the 2016 BMW 320. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 2016 BMW 320 passes its MOT first time 89.3% of the time, well above the UK average of 80%, which is a genuinely strong result—though nearly 29% of vehicles in this cohort have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, a concern for safety-conscious buyers. Petrol versions edge out diesels slightly (91.0% vs 88.9% pass rate), but both are respectable performers.

These cars are running at a sensible 63,550 miles median for their age, and while they average 0.89 failures per vehicle, the 6.2 advisories per test suggest wear items and minor niggles are creeping in—typical for the 320's age and mileage. If you're considering one, get a full service history check and factor in the elevated risk of dangerous faults; a pre-purchase inspection should specifically probe the braking and suspension systems where these defects most commonly show up.

The 2016 BMW 320 has a decent first-time pass rate (89.3%), 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

89.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

28.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.89

Over 7.4 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

64k

Middle half: 48k–83k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.3% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6.2 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 3,409 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 3,409 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 35%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside 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 25.3%

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.

Other issues 17.2%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,409 BMW 320 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

91%

Petrol

598 vehicles

89%

Diesel

2,810 vehicles

Before you buy a 2016 BMW 320

Based on MOT data from 3,409 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.9% 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
Diesel (82%)	2,810	89%	0.92
Petrol (18%)	598	91%	0.75

Colour Breakdown

Based on 56,995 BMW 320 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 20.8%

11,835

Blue 19.8%

11,282

White 19%

10,845

Grey 17%

9,667

Silver 8.8%

5,021

Red 6.5%

3,693

Green 4.4%

2,535

Gold 1.1%

625

Brown 0.8%

454

Orange 0.8%

433

Bronze 0.7%

388

Beige 0.4%

217

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 BMW 320 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.

63,553

typical

48,287

low mileage

82,686

high mileage

Half of all 2016 BMW 320 vehicles fall between 48,287 and 82,686 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 48,287 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.

✓ 48,287–82,686 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 BMW 320s sit.

⚠ Over 111,626 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 BMW 320 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 BMW 320s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 3,083 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* 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

7.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.89

Avg failures per vehicle

6.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 320: All 320 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2016 BMW 320 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing