2016 BMW 3 Series MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for 3 Series models manufactured in 2016, based on 186,018 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
This page shows all 3 Series cars tested in 2016. Want to see how cars built in 2016 hold up over time?
View 2016 BMW 3 Series vintage page → (85.6% current pass rate)2016 BMW 3 Series MOT Analysis
The 2016 BMW 3 Series has an MOT pass rate of 86.7% based on 186,018 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 60,093 miles on the odometer. With a 13.3% failure rate, the 2016 3 Series is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 2016 BMW 3 Series is Tyres, responsible for 2.7% of failures. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs range from £50–200 per tyre. Brakes is the second most common issue at 1.6%. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment follows at 0.9%.
Top failures specific to 2016 models only. The overall 3 Series page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.7% | 5,060 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.6% | 2,922 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 0.9% | 1,708 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.8% | 1,560 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.5% | 838 |
| 6 | Non-component Advisories | 0.3% | 533 |
| 7 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.3% | 479 |
| 8 | Road Wheels | 0.2% | 413 |
| 9 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.1% | 225 |
| 10 | Steering | 0.1% | 169 |
| 11 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.1% | 126 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 60,093 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 0.45 | 2.7% | 5,060 |
| Brakes | 0.26 | 1.6% | 2,922 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.15 | 0.9% | 1,708 |
| Suspension | 0.14 | 0.8% | 1,560 |
| Visibility | 0.07 | 0.5% | 838 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.05 | 0.3% | 533 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.04 | 0.3% | 479 |
| Wheels | 0.04 | 0.2% | 413 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.02 | 0.1% | 225 |
| Steering | 0.02 | 0.1% | 169 |
| Body & Structure | 0.01 | 0.1% | 126 |
| Seat Belts | 0.01 | 0.0% | 71 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 2016 BMW 3 Series has an MOT pass rate of 86.7% based on 186,018 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 60,093 miles on the odometer. With a 13.3% failure rate, the 2016 3 Series is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 2016 BMW 3 Series, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to tyres: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating. At 60,093 average miles, these vehicles are in the mid-range where component wear starts to become a factor.
Tyres — 2.7% of failures
Tyres issues account for 2.7% of MOT failures on 2016 BMW 3 Series models. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Brakes — 1.6% of failures
Brakes issues account for 1.6% of MOT failures on 2016 BMW 3 Series models. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 0.9% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 0.9% of MOT failures on 2016 BMW 3 Series models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.