2012 BMW 3 Series — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 2012 perform at MOT as they age

14 years

Current Age

73.0%

Latest Pass Rate

312,091

Total Tests (All Years)

109,831 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 12

This car: 73.0%

Average: 54.3%

✅ 18.7% above average (13966 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 2012 BMW 3 Series as it ages.

2 yrs88.8%

→ ↓6.5%

3 yrs82.3%

→ ↓0.6%

4 yrs81.7%

→ ↓1.1%

5 yrs80.6%

→ ↓2.9%

6 yrs77.7%

→ ↓1.7%

7 yrs76.0%

→ ↓1.2%

8 yrs74.8%

→ ↓1.6%

9 yrs73.2%

→ ↓2.1%

10 yrs71.1%

→ ↓0.6%

11 yrs70.5%

→ ↑2.5%

12 yrs73.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
2 yrs	88.8%	1,659
3 yrs	82.3%	28,613
4 yrs	81.7%	27,224
5 yrs	80.6%	26,021
6 yrs	77.7%	27,886
7 yrs	76.0%	29,054
8 yrs	74.8%	28,978
9 yrs	73.2%	36,122
10 yrs	71.1%	28,333
11 yrs	70.5%	34,454
12 yrs	73.0%	43,747

Pass Rate Trend

How the 2012 BMW 3 Series pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (12 yrs)	73%	43,747
2023 (11 yrs)	70.5%	34,454
2022 (10 yrs)	71.1%	28,333
2021 (9 yrs)	73.2%	36,122
2020 (8 yrs)	74.8%	28,978
2019 (7 yrs)	76%	29,054
2018 (6 yrs)	77.7%	27,886
2017 (5 yrs)	80.6%	26,021
2016 (4 yrs)	81.7%	27,224
2015 (3 yrs)	82.3%	28,613
2014 (2 yrs)	88.8%	1,659

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2014

88.8%

Age (yrs) 2Tests 1,659Avg Mileage 31,912Top Failure Tyres — 8.9%

2015

82.3%

Age (yrs) 3Tests 28,613Avg Mileage 40,516Top Failure Tyres — 14.0%

2016

81.7%

Age (yrs) 4Tests 27,224Avg Mileage 51,594Top Failure Tyres — 15.3%

2017

80.6%

Age (yrs) 5Tests 26,021Avg Mileage 61,169Top Failure Tyres — 16.6%

2018

77.7%

Age (yrs) 6Tests 27,886Avg Mileage 69,506Top Failure Tyres — 21.1%

2019

76.0%

Age (yrs) 7Tests 29,054Avg Mileage 78,234Top Failure Tyres — 24.6%

2020

74.8%

Age (yrs) 8Tests 28,978Avg Mileage 86,071Top Failure Tyres — 25.5%

2021

73.2%

Age (yrs) 9Tests 36,122Avg Mileage 91,835Top Failure Tyres — 26.8%

2022

71.1%

Age (yrs) 10Tests 28,333Avg Mileage 98,512Top Failure Tyres — 28.3%

2023

70.5%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 34,454Avg Mileage 105,303Top Failure Tyres — 29.0%

2024

73.0%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 43,747Avg Mileage 109,831Top Failure Tyres — 20.1%

MOT results for 2012 BMW 3 Series by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2014	2	88.8%	1,659	31,912	Tyres — 8.9%
2015	3	82.3%	28,613	40,516	Tyres — 14.0%
2016	4	81.7%	27,224	51,594	Tyres — 15.3%
2017	5	80.6%	26,021	61,169	Tyres — 16.6%
2018	6	77.7%	27,886	69,506	Tyres — 21.1%
2019	7	76.0%	29,054	78,234	Tyres — 24.6%
2020	8	74.8%	28,978	86,071	Tyres — 25.5%
2021	9	73.2%	36,122	91,835	Tyres — 26.8%
2022	10	71.1%	28,333	98,512	Tyres — 28.3%
2023	11	70.5%	34,454	105,303	Tyres — 29.0%
2024	12	73.0%	43,747	109,831	Tyres — 20.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 2012 BMW 3 Series, with age trends.

Tyres

20.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

18.0%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

13.0%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

12.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

9.6%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	1.1% (2 yrs)	15.5% (12 yrs)	+14.4%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	8.9% (2 yrs)	20.1% (12 yrs)	+11.2%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the BMW 3 Series page →

About This Data

This page shows how BMW 3 Series cars manufactured in 2012 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2014 to 2024, covering 312,091 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.