BMW 316 MOT pass rate: 77.9% (9,512 tests, 2025)

The BMW 316 passed 77.9% of its 9,512 MOT tests in 2025 — right on the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 12 years old with 98,672 miles on the clock.

77.9%Pass rate (2025)

9,512MOT tests analysed

98,672 miMedian mileage at test

12 yrsMedian age at test

How the 316 compares

BMW 316

77.9%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

BMW average (all models)

83.0%

What fails most on the BMW 316

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the 316:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	1,269	21.9%
2	Brakes	1,250	21.6%
3	Suspension	1,204	20.8%
4	Tyres	672	11.6%
5	Noise, emissions and leaks	568	9.8%
6	Visibility	360	6.2%

Pre-MOT checklist for 316 owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
A blowing exhaust or visible smoke will fail; warm the engine fully before the test

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

316 pass rate by registration year

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2003	2,030	70.1%	+5.1 pts	90,325
2004	1,933	66.5%	+2.2 pts	87,018
2013	3,775	80.4%	+7.1 pts	88,440
2014	4,523	81.5%	+5.6 pts	90,058
2015	2,116	82.2%	+3.4 pts	96,838
2017	2,246	87.1%	+3.1 pts	78,328

Check a specific 316 before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other BMW models

3 Series77.7% pass rate · 346,191 tests 11883.0% pass rate · 151,434 tests X185.0% pass rate · 105,826 tests 11678.5% pass rate · 100,371 tests X383.1% pass rate · 88,755 tests 1 Series81.7% pass rate · 77,207 tests X582.4% pass rate · 76,168 tests 5 Series85.7% pass rate · 71,923 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 316?

In 2025, 77.9% of 9,512 first MOT tests on the BMW 316 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the 316 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (21.9% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the BMW 316 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 77.9% it performs above the national average at a median age of 12 years and 98,672 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.