2010 · 14 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2010 BMW 3 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

25,215 MOT tests in 2024. 67.4% passed first time, compared with 59.6% for all cars the same age.

113Well above average
Passed first time67.4%
Failed or needed repairs32.6%
Typical mileage at test120,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 25,215 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak5.8%
  2. Position lamp: not working3.9%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.2%
    1,343 marked dangerous
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.0%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.3%
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.1%
    766 marked dangerous
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.9%
    653 marked dangerous
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.8%
  9. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.4%
  10. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics16.3%
  2. Suspension13.4%
  3. Brakes12.8%
  4. Tyres9.2%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.9%
  6. Emissions & leaks4.9%
  7. Body & chassis2.5%
  8. Wheels1.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.4%
  2. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak12.2%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.9%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.4%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened7.8%

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: shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak. 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 2010 BMW 3 Series?

In 2024, 67.4% of 2010 BMW 3 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 25,215 tests. The average for all 14-year-old cars was 59.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2010 BMW 3 Series?

The most common failure reasons were shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak; position lamp: not working; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2010 BMW 3 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 113, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).