BMW 316i Se Compact MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,660 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 48.9%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
BMW 316i Se Compact MOT Reliability Overview
The BMW 316i Se Compact is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,660 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 51.1% and a failure rate of 48.9%, which is below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the BMW 316i Se Compact earns a "Poor" reliability rating. The average BMW 316i Se Compact presents for MOT with approximately 93,397 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2000 models achieve the highest pass rate at 53.1%, while 1999 models have the lowest at 44.4%. This 8.7 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the BMW 316i Se Compact is Brakes, affecting 47.3% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Suspension at 45.1%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 21.1%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the BMW 316i Se Compact. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 9 to 14 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The BMW 316i Se Compact shows a relatively stable failure rate after warranty — the change of 0% is negligible. Peak failure occurs at age 10 (51.9% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 73.1% | 1,213 |
| 2 | Suspension | 63.4% | 1,053 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.3% | 453 |
| 4 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 25.8% | 428 |
| 5 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 21.7% | 360 |
| 6 | Driver's View Of The Road | 13.0% | 216 |
| 7 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 7.2% | 119 |
| 8 | Steering | 6.6% | 110 |
| 9 | Body, Structure And General Items | 2.6% | 43 |
| 10 | Registration Plates And Vin | 2.6% | 43 |
| 11 | Road Wheels | 1.9% | 32 |
| 12 | Non-component Advisories | 1.0% | 16 |
| 13 | Items Not Tested | 0.7% | 11 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 93,397 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 7.82 | 73.1% | 1,213 |
| Suspension | 6.79 | 63.4% | 1,053 |
| Tyres | 2.92 | 27.3% | 453 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 2.76 | 25.8% | 428 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 2.32 | 21.7% | 360 |
| Visibility | 1.39 | 13.0% | 216 |
| Seat Belts | 0.77 | 7.2% | 119 |
| Steering | 0.71 | 6.6% | 110 |
| Body & Structure | 0.28 | 2.6% | 43 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.28 | 2.6% | 43 |
| Wheels | 0.21 | 1.9% | 32 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.10 | 1.0% | 16 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.07 | 0.7% | 11 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average BMW 316i Se Compact has 93,397 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The BMW 316i Se Compact has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.24% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About BMW 316i Se Compact MOT Data
The BMW 316i Se Compact is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,660 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 51.1% and a failure rate of 48.9%, which is below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For BMW 316i Se Compact owners, these results suggest above-average failure risk — thorough pre-MOT checks are recommended. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and suspension for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 316i Se Compact is likely to perform.
Brakes — 47.3% of failures
Brakes issues account for 47.3% of MOT failures on the BMW 316i Se Compact. 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).
Suspension — 45.1% of failures
Suspension issues account for 45.1% of MOT failures on the BMW 316i Se Compact. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Tyres — 21.1% of failures
Tyres issues account for 21.1% of MOT failures on the BMW 316i Se Compact. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW 316i Se Compact?
Based on 1,660 MOT tests in our database, the BMW 316i Se Compact has an overall pass rate of 51.1% (48.9% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a BMW 316i Se Compact?
The top 3 reasons a BMW 316i Se Compact fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (47.3%), 2. Suspension (45.1%), 3. Tyres (21.1%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the BMW 316i Se Compact reliable?
With a 48.9% MOT failure rate, the 316i Se Compact is less reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my BMW 316i Se Compact?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (47.3%); Suspension (45.1%); Tyres (21.1%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.