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2021 BMW 3 Series: MOT pass rate and common faults

25,375 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used in 2021 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

87.2%passed first time

Share of initial MOT tests passed with no repairs. Repairs made at the test centre count as a fail. 95% range 86.8% to 87.6% (±0.5 points).

That is about average: the difference from the average for all vehicles first used in 2021 (87.2%) is within the margin of error. These cars were about 4 years old at the test.

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Failure areas compared with all 2021 vehicles

Compared with all vehicles first used in 2021, failures are more common in tyres (1.6×), and less common in lights and electrics (0.7×) and windscreen, wipers, mirrors (0.4×). 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 2021.

  1. Tyres7.8 in 100 tests1.6× compared with 4.8 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2021
  2. Lights and electrics1.8 in 100 tests0.7× compared with 2.6 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2021
  3. Windscreen, wipers, mirrors1.2 in 100 tests0.4× compared with 3.3 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2021
  4. Suspension1.0 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2021
  5. Brakes0.7 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2021
  6. Steering0.4 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2021
  7. Noise, emissions, leaks0.4 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2021
  8. Wheels0.4 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2021
  9. Seat belts and airbags0.3 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2021
  10. Number plates and VIN0.3 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2021

All vehicles first used in 2021: the 221 models in our data, 1,754,969 tests (95.9% of all 1,830,830 tests on vehicles first used in 2021). 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 test42,500

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

What MOT data can't tell you about any 2021 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 2021

Check a 2021 3 Series you're looking at