Get Started
BMW

BMW M3 — Reliability by Year

34,552 vehicles · MOT data 1987–2018 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the BMW M3 was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

✓
Best pass rate year
2018
92.2% pass rate · 867 vehicles
⚠
Lowest pass rate year
1995
73.0% pass rate · 1,458 vehicles
Year Pass rate Avg mileage Vehicles
2018
92.2%
29,421 mi 867
2017
91.0%
32,448 mi 1,060
2016
91.2%
35,711 mi 843
2015
91.0%
40,700 mi 667
2014
89.9%
46,819 mi 287
2013
91.0%
37,717 mi 573
2012
91.0%
42,181 mi 762
2011
90.4%
47,224 mi 938
2010
89.4%
50,192 mi 895
2009
89.2%
52,700 mi 1,094
2008
87.9%
55,932 mi 2,083
2007
87.2%
59,065 mi 915
2006
82.9%
59,760 mi 629
2005
82.1%
64,984 mi 1,823
2004
81.3%
69,686 mi 2,974
2003
80.3%
71,329 mi 4,843
2002
78.8%
76,984 mi 3,727
2001
77.9%
81,262 mi 1,349
1999
75.5%
80,110 mi 496
1998
76.1%
87,267 mi 1,148
1997
75.5%
97,525 mi 1,187
1996
74.2%
100,070 mi 1,277
1995
73.0%
107,160 mi 1,458
1994
73.1%
107,420 mi 1,039
1993
73.6%
114,313 mi 342
1991
83.3%
132,558 mi 123
1990
85.5%
126,318 mi 315
1989
84.2%
117,432 mi 304
1988
83.9%
119,762 mi 241
1987
82.9%
136,962 mi 293

Which year BMW M3 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 29,421 miles (newest year) to 136,962 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 M3.

See the buying guide →

← All BMW models

Check any UK registration — free MOT history and risk insights.