2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 BMW 3 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

11,878 MOT tests in 2024. 65.0% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

115Well above average
Passed first time65.0%
Failed or needed repairs35.0%
Typical mileage at test128,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 11,878 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.3%
  2. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.8%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.7%
    509 marked dangerous
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.5%
  5. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.3%
  6. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated2.2%
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.1%
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.9%
  9. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.8%
  10. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.8%
    312 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Brakes23.1%
  2. Suspension16.8%
  3. Lights & electrics15.7%
  4. Tyres8.1%
  5. Emissions & leaks6.8%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.2%
  7. Seat belts & airbags3.5%
  8. Body & chassis3.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.1%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine18.7%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded15.8%
  4. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated12.2%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.2%

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 2005 BMW 3 Series?

In 2024, 65.0% of 2005 BMW 3 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 11,878 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 BMW 3 Series?

The most common failure reasons were rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2005 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).