2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 BMW 3 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

10,064 MOT tests in 2024. 65.6% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

115Well above average
Passed first time65.6%
Failed or needed repairs34.4%
Typical mileage at test116,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 10,064 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements5.0%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.3%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.9%
  4. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.3%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.2%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
    355 marked dangerous
  7. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.0%
  8. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.8%
  9. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits1.7%
  10. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.7%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes23.4%
  2. Suspension17.1%
  3. Lights & electrics16.3%
  4. Emissions & leaks8.6%
  5. Tyres7.0%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.0%
  7. Body & chassis3.9%
  8. Seat belts & airbags3.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine24.0%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded20.8%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.8%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.7%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn8.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 BMW 3 Series?

In 2024, 65.6% of 2003 BMW 3 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 10,064 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 BMW 3 Series?

The most common failure reasons were rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2003 BMW 3 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 115, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).