BMW 320 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the BMW 320. Check any 320 by registration number below.

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89.8%

Avg Pass Rate

-0.1%

vs BMW Avg

Year Ranges

Excellent

Reliability

BMW 320 — MOT Reliability Overview

The BMW 320 has an average MOT pass rate of 89.8%, which is 0.1 percentage points below the BMW brand average of 89.9%. This is a strong result, indicating that the 320 is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a BMW 320 fails its MOT are a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. If you are preparing your 320 for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Typical mileage for the 320 is around 137,182 miles at 5 years. When evaluating a used 320, compare the odometer reading against these benchmarks. Significantly lower mileage than expected could indicate a clocked vehicle — run a free mileage check to verify.

Before buying a used BMW 320, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the BMW 320 performs at MOT across different model years.

2022

Based on 61 vehicles

95.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.4%

Retest Rate

3.4%

Mileage at 3yr

41k mi

2021

Based on 2,389 vehicles

91.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.4%

Retest Rate

10.1%

Mileage at 3yr

46k mi

2020

Based on 12,468 vehicles

90.2%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.4%

Retest Rate

9.5%

Mileage at 3yr

43k mi

Mileage at 5yr

64k mi

2019

Based on 20,215 vehicles

90.8%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.3%

Retest Rate

9.2%

Mileage at 3yr

45k mi

Mileage at 5yr

68k mi

2018

Based on 24,536 vehicles

90.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.7%

Retest Rate

10.4%

Mileage at 5yr

80k mi

2017

Based on 37,730 vehicles

89.4%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.7%

Retest Rate

10.9%

Mileage at 5yr

92k mi

2016

Based on 8,838 vehicles

88.4%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.3%

Retest Rate

13.2%

2015

Based on 706 vehicles

87.4%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.9%

Retest Rate

14.0%

Mileage at 10yr

141k mi

2014

Based on 525 vehicles

81.3%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.7%

Retest Rate

20.2%

Mileage at 10yr

125k mi

2013

Based on 682 vehicles

88.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.6%

Retest Rate

14.8%

Mileage at 10yr

121k mi

2012

Based on 482 vehicles

80.5%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.5%

Retest Rate

20.3%

Mileage at 10yr

155k mi

2011

Based on 332 vehicles

83.4%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.8%

Retest Rate

13.5%

2010

Based on 353 vehicles

82.4%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.6%

Retest Rate

16.4%

2009

Based on 1,004 vehicles

96.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.5%

Retest Rate

26.6%

Mileage at 3yr

67k mi

Mileage at 5yr

137k mi

Mileage at 10yr

190k mi

2008

Based on 1,513 vehicles

95.4%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

8.2%

Retest Rate

20.4%

Mileage at 3yr

78k mi

Mileage at 5yr

134k mi

Mileage at 10yr

202k mi

2007

Based on 2,055 vehicles

94.9%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

8.6%

Retest Rate

20.1%

Mileage at 3yr

80k mi

Mileage at 5yr

135k mi

Mileage at 10yr

215k mi

2006

Based on 2,643 vehicles

95.8%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

8.9%

Retest Rate

17.9%

Mileage at 3yr

66k mi

Mileage at 5yr

144k mi

Mileage at 10yr

206k mi

2005

Based on 3,334 vehicles

94.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

10.6%

Retest Rate

34.0%

Mileage at 5yr

138k mi

Mileage at 10yr

199k mi

2004

Based on 2,726 vehicles

90.7%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.8%

Retest Rate

16.7%

Mileage at 5yr

136k mi

Mileage at 10yr

204k mi

2003

Based on 3,543 vehicles

91.9%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

8.3%

Retest Rate

25.0%

Mileage at 5yr

105k mi

Mileage at 10yr

203k mi

2002

Based on 3,565 vehicles

90.7%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

201k mi

2001

Based on 3,939 vehicles

90.7%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.5%

Retest Rate

22.7%

Mileage at 10yr

189k mi

2000

Based on 3,638 vehicles

90.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

193k mi

1999

Based on 2,592 vehicles

90.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

191k mi

1998

Based on 1,675 vehicles

89.6%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

182k mi

1997

Based on 629 vehicles

89.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1996

Based on 668 vehicles

88.8%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1995

Based on 705 vehicles

90.4%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1994

Based on 395 vehicles

90.9%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1993

Based on 362 vehicles

87.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1992

Based on 411 vehicles

88.3%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1991

Based on 302 vehicles

88.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1990

Based on 237 vehicles

89.9%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1989

Based on 45 vehicles

93.3%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

7.5%

0

Based on 43,304 vehicles

89.6%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 5yr

53k mi

Top MOT Failures — BMW 320

The most common reasons a BMW 320 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

2.5%

A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage

2.1%

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

1.5%

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

1.3%

A tyre seriously damaged

1.0%

BMW 320 Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Nearside

1.6%

Front Offside

1.6%

Rear Nearside

1.6%

Typical Mileage — BMW 320

Average mileage readings recorded at MOT tests for the 2009 model year range. Use these benchmarks to evaluate a used 320.

At 3 Years

66,637

miles

At 5 Years

137,182

miles

At 10 Years

189,959

miles

Other BMW Models

Compare MOT reliability across BMW models.

BMW 420d Xdrive M Sport Mhev Auto

90.4% pass rate

BMW X2 Sdrive18d Sport

87.3% pass rate

BMW X2 Sdrive18d M Sport X Auto

87.0% pass rate

BMW 550

82.4% pass rate

BMW 316 I

89.0% pass rate

BMW 540i Xdrive M Sport Mhev Auto

75.6% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for BMW 320

BMW 320 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the BMW 320 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW 320?

The average MOT pass rate for the BMW 320 is 89.8% compared to the BMW average of 89.9%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a BMW 320?

The most common MOT failures on the BMW 320 are: A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (2.5%), A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (2.1%), Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (1.5%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the BMW 320 reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 89.8%, the BMW 320 is rated as "Excellent" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a BMW 320?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a BMW 320?

Typical mileage for the BMW 320: 41,123 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used 320 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your BMW 320's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.