BMW 3 Series UK Reliability Profile — DVSA MOT pass rates

Background

This profile draws on 1,687,265 UK MOT tests for the BMW 3 Series, with age-specific results spanning 3 to 30 years old and test-year results covering 2020 to 2023. In this dataset, MOT pass rates are presented alongside test volume and, by vehicle age, median mileage.

The broad pattern is straightforward: the 3 Series posts strong pass rates in its earlier MOT years, then shows a steady decline through the middle of its life. At older ages, the pass rate stabilises and then improves slightly in the oldest groups still appearing in the data.

How pass rates change with age

The strongest pass rates in this dataset appear early. At 3 years old, the BMW 3 Series records an 88.19 pass rate across 28,735 tests, rising to 89.49 at 4 years from 47,389 tests. At 5 years, the pass rate is 89.11 from 65,909 tests.

From there, the trend turns downward. By 7 years, the pass rate is 85.79 across 118,545 tests, with median mileage at 69,225. At 10 years, the pass rate is 77.32 from 128,639 tests, and by 12 years it is 73.88 from 115,113 tests.

The decline continues into the late-teen years. At 16 years, the pass rate is 70.99 across 90,680 tests. At 17 years it is 68.88 from 70,385 tests, and at 19 years it reaches 67.59 from 44,511 tests, which is the lowest figure shown in the age breakdown.

After that low point, the oldest surviving cars in the sample show a modest recovery. The pass rate is 68.46 at 20 years, 69.63 at 23 years, 72.37 at 26 years, 76.75 at 29 years, and 77.34 at 30 years.

Age-by-age MOT results

Age	Tests	Pass rate	Median mileage
3	28,735	88.19	28,022
4	47,389	89.49	38,156
5	65,909	89.11	48,006
6	88,301	87.57	59,288
7	118,545	85.79	69,225
8	127,937	83.44	78,857
9	129,254	80.26	89,231
10	128,639	77.32	97,556
11	120,961	74.94	103,461
12	115,113	73.88	108,986
13	118,265	73.23	112,357
14	116,682	72.94	116,393
15	107,135	72.26	121,462

This middle section of the car’s life is where the dataset is heaviest. Test counts are particularly high from 7 to 15 years, with 118,545 tests at 7 years, 127,937 at 8 years, 129,254 at 9 years, and 128,639 at 10 years. That gives the age-related pattern substantial weight in the core used-car years.

Mileage and the reliability curve

Median mileage rises consistently through the early and middle years. It moves from 28,022 at 3 years to 59,288 at 6 years, 69,225 at 7 years, 97,556 at 10 years, and 121,462 at 15 years.

The highest median mileage in the table appears at 16 years, at 123,670. After that, the mileage figures flatten or ease back: 123,343 at 17 years, 120,672 at 18 years, 117,089 at 20 years, 115,554 at 22 years, and 113,512 at 30 years.

That matters when reading the late-life pass-rate improvement. The oldest cars in the sample are not showing ever-rising median mileage. Instead, the data suggests a long plateau around the low- to mid-100,000-mile range, while pass rates recover from 67.59 at 19 years to 77.34 at 30 years.

Recent test-year results

The by-year figures are more stable than the by-age figures. From 2020 to 2023, the BMW 3 Series records pass rates in a relatively narrow band.

Test year	Tests	Pass rate
2020	114,233	84.65
2021	125,595	86.19
2022	92,065	86.67
2023	68,799	86.88

Across these 4 years, the pass rate improves from 84.65 in 2020 to 86.88 in 2023. Test volume, however, falls from 125,595 in 2021 to 68,799 in 2023.

What this suggests for used examples

For buyers and owners looking at the UK used market, the key dividing line in this dataset is not between new and old, but between early-life and middle-age MOT performance. The 3 Series remains at 88.19 at 3 years, 89.49 at 4 years, and 89.11 at 5 years, but is down to 85.79 at 7 years and 73.88 at 12 years.

That makes the 7-year and 12-year markers especially useful reference points in this dataset. At 7 years, median mileage is 69,225 and pass rate is 85.79. At 12 years, median mileage is 108,986 and pass rate is 73.88.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How many BMW 3 Series MOT tests are included here? A: The dataset includes 1,687,265 MOT tests for the BMW 3 Series.

Q: What is the pass rate at 3 years old? A: At 3 years old, the pass rate is 88.19 from 28,735 tests.

Q: What is the pass rate at 7 years old? A: At 7 years old, the pass rate is 85.79 across 118,545 tests. The median mileage at that age is 69,225.

Q: What is the pass rate at 12 years old? A: At 12 years old, the pass rate is 73.88 from 115,113 tests. The median mileage is 108,986.

Q: When is the lowest age-specific pass rate in this dataset? A: The lowest listed age-specific pass rate is 67.59 at 19 years, based on 44,511 tests.

Q: How did pass rates look in recent years? A: The pass rate is 84.65 in 2020, 86.19 in 2021, 86.67 in 2022, and 86.88 in 2023.