Every BMW in the data

Sorted by how many tests each one contributes, so the models most people actually buy come first. A linked row has a page of its own.

Model	Years	Tests	Fail rate
3 Series	2010–2013	126,121	28.6%
3 Series	2014–2017	91,077	18.1%
116	2014–2017	55,128	22.4%
118	2014–2017	44,312	18.2%
420	2014–2017	41,363	17.1%
118	2018–2021	41,186	12.3%
5 Series	2018–2021	40,294	11.8%
X1	2014–2017	39,263	16.3%
520	2014–2017	38,430	16.3%
X1	2018–2021	36,447	10.7%
1 Series	2010–2013	35,028	28.6%
218	2014–2017	33,037	17.3%
118	2010–2013	32,716	31.3%
116	2010–2013	31,482	30%
X3	2014–2017	30,547	19.4%
X3	2018–2021	29,168	10.3%
1 Series	2018–2021	28,216	11.9%
520	2010–2013	26,839	27%
X5	2014–2017	25,008	13.2%
3 Series	2018–2021	24,373	13.4%
X1	2010–2013	24,036	27.3%
420	2018–2021	21,761	13%
320	2018–2021	20,552	12.2%
X3	2010–2013	19,423	27%
X5	2018–2021	18,448	13.1%
320	2014–2017	17,734	13.9%
X5	2010–2013	15,519	23.1%
5 Series	2010–2013	14,315	25.1%
5 Series	2014–2017	14,032	13.5%
218	2018–2021	14,013	13%
1 Series	2014–2017	13,801	12.9%
220	2014–2017	13,514	17.6%
330	2018–2021	13,248	14.7%
2 Series	2018–2021	12,854	11.9%
120	2010–2013	12,526	30.9%
120	2014–2017	12,495	17.9%
I3	2018–2021	11,626	10.6%
435	2014–2017	10,680	15%
430	2014–2017	8,941	15.2%
I3	2014–2017	8,460	13.5%
2 Series	2014–2017	8,380	13.8%
330	2014–2017	7,848	13.4%
X4	2014–2017	7,771	18.4%
Z4	2010–2013	7,559	19.5%
X4	2018–2021	7,076	11.5%
640	2014–2017	6,839	17%
M4	2014–2017	6,704	14%
X2	2018–2021	6,673	15%
116	2018–2021	6,329	15.5%
X6	2014–2017	5,954	13.8%
530	2010–2013	5,718	23.2%
530	2014–2017	5,657	13.8%
318	2018–2021	5,062	12.4%
M4	2018–2021	5,030	11.4%
Z4	2014–2017	4,975	15.1%
M135I Xdrive Auto	2018–2021	4,820	9.7%
216	2014–2017	4,286	20.2%
335	2014–2017	4,233	12.4%
430	2018–2021	4,227	12.8%
X6	2010–2013	3,913	22.5%
520D M Sport Mhev Auto	2018–2021	3,786	12.1%
Z4	2018–2021	3,760	9%
318	2014–2017	3,637	16.5%
316	2014–2017	3,616	22.8%
535	2014–2017	3,462	14.3%
218I M Sport Auto	2018–2021	3,212	12.2%
6 Series	2018–2021	3,037	10.5%
730	2014–2017	2,987	13.9%
640	2010–2013	2,815	20.1%
120	2018–2021	2,780	12.7%
X6	2018–2021	2,716	12.6%
428	2014–2017	2,711	15.9%
M3	2014–2017	2,587	12.5%
440	2018–2021	2,514	11.3%
125	2014–2017	2,500	18.4%
M3	2010–2013	2,416	11.5%
440	2014–2017	2,361	12.2%
316	2010–2013	2,354	28.2%
525	2010–2013	2,292	25%
225	2014–2017	2,257	15%
435	2018–2021	2,243	13.2%
730	2010–2013	2,198	20%
218I Se	2018–2021	2,014	12.4%
114	2010–2013	2,002	29.2%

How a BMW ages

The same manufacturer at three ages. Every make gets worse with age; what differs is how steeply, and that is the part worth knowing before you choose between a cheaper older one and a dearer newer one.

Best and worst in the range

Cohorts with at least 5,000 tests only, so a rare model cannot top either list on thin evidence.

What actually fails on a BMW

Pooled across the whole range and weighted by test count. One model's worst fault is a fact about that model; the same fault across the range is a fact about the make.

• 2.2% Tyres tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
• 1.6% Tyres has ply or cords exposed
• 1.6% Tyres has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
• 1.2% Brake linings and pads less than 1.5 mm thick
• 1% Suspension has a serious fluid leak
• 0.8% Position lamp not working

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023. Class 4 standard tests only. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BMW and its marks are the property of their owner and are used here to identify the manufacturer this page is about.