Is the Bmw 3 reliable?

The Bmw 3 has an average MOT pass rate of 88% across 3 years, based on 185 tests in 2026. That's 6 points above the national average of 82%. The most reliable year is 2009 with a 91% pass rate.

Which year Bmw 3 is best?

The 2009 Bmw 3 has the highest MOT pass rate at 91%, while the 2013 model has the lowest at 86%. There's a 5 percentage point spread between the best and worst years.

Bmw 3

Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 3 years from 185 real MOT tests.

Avg Pass Rate

88%

Total Tests

185

Best Year

2009 (91%)

Years Covered

About the Bmw 3

The Bmw 3 has been tested 185 times in 2026 MOT data across 3 model years (2009 to 2014), with an average pass rate of 88%. That's comfortably above the national average of 82%, making it a reliable choice. Available as hybrid and petrol and diesel.

Best and Worst Years

The 2009 model is the most reliable with a 91% pass rate from 34 tests. The 2013 model has the lowest at 86%. With just a 5 point spread, the 3 is consistently reliable regardless of year.

Mileage Across Years

The oldest model in our data (2009) averages 101,097 miles, while the newest (2014) averages 71,139 miles. Older models have covered serious mileage, so suspension and drivetrain wear are worth checking.