BMW MOT Results And Reliability Indicators
DVLA/DVSA vehicle and MOT data, 2025*
See how BMW vehicles have performed in MOT tests, then use the results to focus your used-vehicle checks.
- Compare BMW pass rates with the Great Britain result
- See how results change by vehicle age and model
- Check common MOT faults before viewing a vehicle
These results are MOT reliability indicators for groups of vehicles. They cannot predict the condition of one vehicle.
BMW MOT Results Overview
Main result
82.0%
Passed First Time Without A Station Repair
BMW's recorded outright pass rate across qualifying Class 4 MOT tests.
Evidence base
2,176,584
BMW Class 4 MOT Tests
The number of qualifying tests used for these results.
Other recorded outcome
3.2%
Passed After A Repair At The MOT Station
Share of qualifying initial tests.
Compared with Great Britain
5.1 percentage points higher
Than The Great Britain Recorded Pass Rate
81.4%
BMW Rate After Allowing For Vehicle Age
The recorded comparison uses the test results as supplied. The adjusted rate allows for differences in vehicle age.
What this does not tell you: manufacturer statistics describe groups of recorded tests. They cannot prove whether one BMW is reliable or predict its next MOT result.
BMW MOT Results Compared With Other Manufacturers
BMW ranked 6 of 37 after applying the same Great Britain vehicle-age profile to every qualifying manufacturer. This reduces the effect of one manufacturer having an older or newer mix of vehicles.
84.4%
82.3%
81.5%
81.4%
81.2%
80.9%
80.8%
BMW MOT Results By Vehicle Age
Compare the BMW you are considering with vehicles of a similar age. Each cohort is shown against the Great Britain Class 4 rate at the same age.
- Great Britain same-age rate
- Difference
Hover or select a point for exact figures.
View The Age Data Table
| Age (Years) | BMW Tests | BMW Passed First Time | Great Britain Same-Age Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 118,674 | 89.1% | 89.4% |
| 4 years | 123,217 | 89.7% | 88.3% |
| 5 years | 119,423 | 89.1% | 87.3% |
| 6 years | 176,450 | 88.2% | 85.3% |
| 7 years | 175,462 | 86.8% | 83.3% |
| 8 years | 175,269 | 85.6% | 81.3% |
| 9 years | 182,881 | 84.4% | 78.9% |
| 10 years | 167,031 | 82.7% | 76.8% |
| 11 years | 144,881 | 80.0% | 74.6% |
| 12 years | 129,596 | 77.5% | 72.7% |
| 13 years | 114,699 | 75.3% | 71.3% |
| 14 years | 90,396 | 75.9% | 69.8% |
| 15 years | 78,346 | 74.9% | 68.5% |
| 16 years | 66,065 | 74.1% | 67.7% |
| 17 years | 56,975 | 74.2% | 66.9% |
| 18 years | 56,590 | 74.0% | 66.8% |
| 19 years | 46,794 | 72.8% | 66.6% |
| 20 years | 35,496 | 72.1% | 66.9% |
Common BMW MOT Faults
These are the most frequently recorded specific failure items in the 2025 BMW data. The percentages are shares of recorded failure items, not shares of tests. A failed test can contain more than one item.
BMW Model MOT Pass Rates
15 models met the minimum of 5,000 Class 4 tests. Class 4 covers cars, taxis and certain light commercial vehicles, so qualifying model tables may include vans. The table is ordered by outright first-time pass rate. These model rates are not age-adjusted, so different age profiles can affect the comparison.
I3 recorded the highest rate in this qualifying set at 88.0% across 28,699 tests. 120 recorded the lowest at 76.3% across 46,485 tests. This is a historical MOT comparison, not a prediction for every example of either model.
Swipe to compare
| Model | Passed First Time | Tests | Pass Rate Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| I3 | 88.0% | 28,699 | 1 |
| 320 | 87.1% | 44,912 | 2 |
| 5 SERIES | 85.3% | 81,486 | 3 |
| 420 | 84.4% | 70,507 | 4 |
| X1 | 84.1% | 121,310 | 5 |
| 218 | 83.1% | 53,191 | 6 |
| X3 | 81.9% | 102,884 | 7 |
| X5 | 81.9% | 88,100 | 8 |
| 118 | 81.6% | 175,629 | 9 |
| Z4 | 80.8% | 41,006 | 10 |
| 1 SERIES | 80.7% | 90,319 | 11 |
| 520 | 80.5% | 83,873 | 12 |
| 3 SERIES | 77.0% | 414,510 | 13 |
| 116 | 76.6% | 120,154 | 14 |
| 120 | 76.3% | 46,485 | 15 |
Checks For A Used BMW
Use the free MOT record as one step. A Premium Vehicle Report adds provenance checks that are not included in the free MOT history.
BMW MOT Results And Reliability FAQs
Does an MOT pass rate measure reliability?
It is one reliability indicator. The 2025 Class 4 data shows how BMW vehicles performed at MOT tests. It does not measure breakdowns, durability, repair costs or the condition of one vehicle.
What does passed first time mean?
An outright first-time pass means the initial recorded test result was a pass, before any repair at the test station or retest.
Which BMW model had the highest MOT pass rate?
I3 recorded the highest outright first-time rate among qualifying models at 88.0%. Only models with at least 5,000 tests are included, and these model results are not age-adjusted.
Can I check a BMW's MOT history for free?
Yes. The free MOT history can show recorded passes, failures, advisories and mileage from official MOT records for the registration you enter.
What does the Premium Vehicle Report add?
It adds available checks for outstanding finance, stolen records, write-off and salvage history, mileage, recalls, valuation and other vehicle data for the individual registration.
