BMW 3 Series Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems
Free BMW 3 Series vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.
- 80% MOT pass rate
- 15,485 3 Seriess checked
- 20.0% had outstanding finance
BMW 3 Series reg check
Full BMW 3 Series history check from £3.99
The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full BMW 3 Series car check:
Of the 110 BMW 3 Series vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 20.0% had outstanding finance recorded and 11.8% an insurance write-off record.
- Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
- Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
- Police stolen marker
- High risk register
- Previous keepers and last change
- Plate and colour changes
- Scrapped, imported or exported
- Mileage anomaly check
£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.
Free BMW 3 Series MOT History and Mileage Data
What the MOT records of 14,845 BMW 3 Series vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.
- 80%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
- 8,100typical miles a year
- 5.2%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
- 187,065MOT tests analysed
- 2008–2015built (middle half)
- 58%diesel; 33% petrol; 8% hybrid electric (clean)
BMW 3 Series common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories
The defects MOT testers record most often on the BMW 3 Series, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the 3 Series's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.
Top 14 BMW 3 Series MOT failures
Reasons the car failed its MOT.
- Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%
- Position lamp not working1.7%
- Tyre has ply or cords exposed1.3%
- Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.3%
- Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid1.3%
- Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak1.3%
- Parking brake efficiency below requirements1.2%
- Headlamp aim too low1.2%
- Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.9%
- Headlamp aim too high0.9%
Show all 14
- Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.8%
- Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively0.7%
- Stop lamp not working0.7%
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.5%
Top 20 BMW 3 Series MOT advisories
Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge8.0%
- Brake pad wearing thin6.9%
- Tyre worn close to the legal limit5.3%
- Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened3.8%
- Oil leak, but not excessive3.1%
- Brake hose slightly deteriorated2.8%
- Shock absorbers has light misting of oil2.0%
- Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.8%
- Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.6%
- Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.6%
Show all 20
- Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material1.5%
- Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.5%
- Play in steering rack inner joint1.2%
- Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect1.2%
- Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing1.2%
- Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'1.1%
- Nail in tyre1.1%
- Brake pipe slightly corroded1.0%
- Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A'0.9%
- Brake disc worn, but not excessively0.8%
- Lights and indicators: 39% of failed tests
- Tyres: 31% of failed tests
- Suspension: 23% of failed tests
- Brakes: 23% of failed tests
- Windscreen and wipers: 13% of failed tests
- Tyres advisory: 25% of tests
- Brakes advisory: 22% of tests
- Suspension advisory: 13% of tests
Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 14,845 BMW 3 Series vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since March 2023 (187,065 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
BMW 3 Series versions
Every BMW 3 Series version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "3 Series" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.
| Version | Vehicles | MOT pass rate | Top failure area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Series (no version recorded) | 11,858 | 79% | Lights and indicators |
3 Series 320
|
775 | 88% | Tyres |
3 Series 330
|
656 | 88% | Tyres |
3 Series 330E
|
412 | 86% | Tyres |
3 Series 316
|
328 | 78% | Lights and indicators |
3 Series 318
|
162 | – | – |
3 Series 320I
|
121 | – | – |
3 Series M340I
|
117 | – | – |
3 Series 335
|
109 | – | – |
3 Series 320D
|
101 | – | – |
3 Series M340D
|
46 | – | – |
3 Series 318I
|
36 | – | – |
3 Series 330D
|
32 | – | – |
3 Series 318D
|
24 | – | – |
3 Series 325
|
18 | – | – |
Key history checks before buying a used BMW 3 Series
All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.
Outstanding finance
A BMW on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check
Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)
Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check
Police stolen marker
Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check
High risk register
Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the 3 Series. Find out why before you buy.
Mileage anomaly check & MOT history
Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check
Previous keepers & plate changes
How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check
More free and full vehicle checks for a BMW 3 Series
Full BMW 3 Series car check from £3.99 a report
Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the BMW 3 Series you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.
Check a 3 Series by reg → See a sample reportBMW 3 Series MOT questions
How do I check a used BMW 3 Series for outstanding finance or a write-off?
Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 110 BMW 3 Series vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 20.0% had outstanding finance recorded and 11.8% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.
Is a BMW 3 Series car check free?
The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any BMW 3 Series are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.
What is the most common MOT failure on the BMW 3 Series?
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm: found at 2.5% of the BMW 3 Series MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 39% of failed tests.
What is the BMW 3 Series MOT pass rate?
80% of 187,065 MOT tests on 14,845 BMW 3 Series vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.
What are the common problems with the BMW 3 Series?
Going by its MOT records, the BMW 3 Series's most common failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.5% of tests); position lamp not working (1.7% of tests); tyre has ply or cords exposed (1.3% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.
What is the most common MOT advisory on the BMW 3 Series?
Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 8.0% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.
How many miles a year is a BMW 3 Series typically driven?
About 8,100 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 5.2% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.
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