BMW 320 MOT pass rate: 87.8% (40,128 tests, 2025)

The BMW 320 passed 87.8% of its 40,128 MOT tests in 2025 — 10.3 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 7 years old with 62,136 miles on the clock.

87.8%Pass rate (2025)

40,128MOT tests analysed

62,136 miMedian mileage at test

7 yrsMedian age at test

How the 320 compares

BMW 320

87.8%

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 320

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the 320:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Tyres	3,417	43.5%
2	Brakes	1,345	17.1%
3	Suspension	992	12.6%
4	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	921	11.7%
5	Visibility	545	6.9%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	265	3.4%

Pre-MOT checklist for 320 owners

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

Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
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
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items

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

320 pass rate by registration year

Lower age-adjusted outliers to inspect carefully: 2020. Strongest age-adjusted years: 2016. Full ranking and method: BMW 320 years to avoid.

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2016	9,577	87.4%	+6.1 pts	75,067
2017	41,210	87.9%	+3.9 pts	66,478
2018	26,569	89.0%	+2.6 pts	54,882
2019	20,512	89.5%	+1.1 pts	39,325
2020	12,163	88.6%	-1.4 pts	31,661
2021	2,335	90.8%	+0.4 pts	31,157

Check a specific 320 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 320?

In 2025, 87.8% of 40,128 first MOT tests on the BMW 320 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the 320 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is tyres (43.5% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the BMW 320 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 87.8% it performs above the national average at a median age of 7 years and 62,136 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.