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BMW M3 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the BMW M3. Check any M3 by registration number below.

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90.3%

Avg Pass Rate

+0.4%

vs BMW Avg

33

Year Ranges

Excellent

Reliability

BMW M3 — MOT Reliability Overview

The BMW M3 has an average MOT pass rate of 90.3%, which is 0.4 percentage points above the BMW brand average of 89.9%. This is a strong result, indicating that the M3 is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a BMW M3 fails its MOT are a shock absorber missing or likely to become detached, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point. If you are preparing your M3 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.

Before buying a used BMW M3, 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 M3 performs at MOT across different model years.

2018

Based on 3,455 vehicles

94.5%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.2%

Retest Rate

7.1%

Mileage at 5yr

52k mi

2017

Based on 4,421 vehicles

92.9%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.0%

Retest Rate

9.7%

Mileage at 5yr

56k mi

2016

Based on 3,622 vehicles

93.9%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.3%

Retest Rate

6.3%

2015

Based on 2,810 vehicles

94.8%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

0.9%

Retest Rate

4.8%

Mileage at 10yr

74k mi

2014

Based on 1,154 vehicles

92.9%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.0%

Retest Rate

7.9%

Mileage at 10yr

101k mi

2013

Based on 1,301 vehicles

92.8%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

2.1%

Retest Rate

8.4%

Mileage at 10yr

81k mi

2012

Based on 1,949 vehicles

92.5%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.8%

Retest Rate

8.1%

Mileage at 10yr

93k mi

2011

Based on 2,155 vehicles

91.1%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.5%

Retest Rate

8.3%

2010

Based on 2,227 vehicles

91.4%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.6%

Retest Rate

12.4%

2009

Based on 2,429 vehicles

92.0%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.4%

Retest Rate

8.2%

2008

Based on 3,678 vehicles

90.6%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.7%

Retest Rate

12.2%

2007

Based on 1,470 vehicles

92.1%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.2%

Retest Rate

5.3%

2006

Based on 906 vehicles

88.9%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.3%

Retest Rate

14.1%

2005

Based on 2,604 vehicles

87.6%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

2.4%

Retest Rate

9.7%

2004

Based on 3,802 vehicles

87.6%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.7%

Retest Rate

11.8%

2003

Based on 5,115 vehicles

87.2%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.7%

Retest Rate

11.4%

2002

Based on 3,384 vehicles

87.1%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.9%

Retest Rate

12.0%

2001

Based on 829 vehicles

86.6%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.6%

Retest Rate

10.6%

2000

Based on 33 vehicles

97.0%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

3.8%

1999

Based on 487 vehicles

86.0%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.3%

Retest Rate

8.3%

1998

Based on 718 vehicles

85.1%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

0.6%

Retest Rate

10.4%

1997

Based on 771 vehicles

88.5%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.2%

Retest Rate

6.6%

1996

Based on 644 vehicles

87.3%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.4%

Retest Rate

5.8%

1995

Based on 512 vehicles

86.5%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.3%

Retest Rate

7.5%

1994

Based on 264 vehicles

84.8%Good
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

1.5%

Retest Rate

11.1%

1993

Based on 49 vehicles

73.5%Average
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

2.9%

Retest Rate

17.1%

1992

Based on 32 vehicles

93.8%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

8.0%

1991

Based on 72 vehicles

97.2%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

1990

Based on 154 vehicles

93.5%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

4.8%

1989

Based on 164 vehicles

95.7%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

2.8%

1988

Based on 140 vehicles

92.1%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

12.0%

1987

Based on 171 vehicles

94.2%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

2.5%

0

Based on 17,399 vehicles

88.2%Excellent
BMW average: 89.9%
Mileage at 5yr

78k mi

Top MOT Failures — BMW M3

The most common reasons a BMW M3 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

1

A shock absorber missing or likely to become detached

3.8%
2

Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements

2.5%
3

Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point

2.1%
4

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

1.6%
5

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

1.5%
BMW M3 Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

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

Rear Offside

1.0%

Front Offside

1.0%

Front Nearside

1.0%

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 M3

BMW M3 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the BMW M3 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW M3?
The average MOT pass rate for the BMW M3 is 90.3% 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 M3?
The most common MOT failures on the BMW M3 are: A shock absorber missing or likely to become detached (3.8%), Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements (2.5%), Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point (2.1%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.
Is the BMW M3 reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 90.3%, the BMW M3 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 M3?
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 M3?
Typical mileage for the BMW M3: 51,683 miles at 5 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used M3 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your BMW M3's MOT History

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

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