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2018 BMW 3 Series: MOT pass rate and common faults

24,316 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used in 2018 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

85.7%passed first time

Share of initial MOT tests passed with no repairs. Repairs made at the test centre count as a fail. 95% range 85.3% to 86.2% (±0.5 points).

That is 4.8 points above the average for all vehicles first used in 2018 (80.9%). These cars were about 7 years old at the test.

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Failure areas compared with all 2018 vehicles

Compared with all vehicles first used in 2018, failures are more common in tyres (1.2×), and less common in brakes (0.7×), suspension (0.5×), lights and electrics (0.4×) and windscreen, wipers, mirrors (0.5×). Other differences are within the margin of error.

Failed tests with a fault in each area, per 100 tests. The right-hand column shows how many times as often as all vehicles first used in 2018.

  1. Tyres6.7 in 100 tests1.2× compared with 5.5 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2018
  2. Brakes2.4 in 100 tests0.7× compared with 3.6 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2018
  3. Suspension1.9 in 100 tests0.5× compared with 3.6 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2018
  4. Lights and electrics1.9 in 100 tests0.4× compared with 5.0 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2018
  5. Windscreen, wipers, mirrors1.6 in 100 tests0.5× compared with 3.1 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2018
  6. Noise, emissions, leaks1.3 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2018
  7. Wheels0.8 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2018
  8. Seat belts and airbags0.3 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2018
  9. Number plates and VIN0.3 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2018

All vehicles first used in 2018: the 245 models in our data, 2,409,788 tests (97.5% of all 2,471,792 tests on vehicles first used in 2018). Areas with fewer than 50 failures in a model aren't published, so an area is only compared when that leaves the all-vehicles figure at most 10% short; otherwise it shows –.

Typical mileage at test64,200

Median odometer reading at the 2025 MOT test, in miles. Half had more and half had less.

After an MOT advisory

2018 BMW 3 Series cars that passed their 2024 MOT first time with an advisory, and what their next MOT found, against similar cars that passed with nothing noted in that area. Only cars first used in 2018.

Tyres

Of 2018 BMW 3 Series cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a tyre advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 8.7% failed on tyres, against 6.1% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 3,359 and 12,857 cars.

  • With a tyre advisory8.7%
  • Similar cars, nothing noted6.1%

Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 11.1% of those with a tyre advisory and 11.2% of the others.

Brakes

Of 2018 BMW 3 Series cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a brake advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 5.6% failed on brakes, against 1.8% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 1,967 and 14,248 cars.

  • With a brake advisory5.6%
  • Similar cars, nothing noted1.8%

Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 12.0% of those with a brake advisory and 11.0% of the others.

Not enough 2018 BMW 3 Series cars with a suspension advisory to show a figure for this year alone.

Similar cars are the same model, first-use year and mileage band. Areas are the DVSA's top-level groups, so the later fail may not be the fault that was advised. These figures describe what happened to these cars. They don't show what a repair would have changed.

BMW 3 Series, all first-use years togetherHow we worked this outAll models compared, with the data

What MOT data can't tell you about any 2018 BMW 3 Series

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checksWhat MOT history doesn't show

Other BMW 3 Series years

BMW 3 Series: every year, common faults and what to check

Other cars first used in 2018

Check a 2018 3 Series you're looking at