In 2025, 88,996 BMW X3 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 79% passed first time, compared with 73% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the X3 better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 38 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 4 years old, 91% of X3s passed first time (all cars that age: 87%). By 20 years, that figure is 62% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 4 to 20 years.
BMW X3 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | X3 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 years | 1,967 | 91% | 87% | 32,902 |
| 5 years | 5,202 | 89% | 86% | 42,337 |
| 6 years | 14,940 | 88% | 84% | 50,267 |
| 7 years | 8,136 | 88% | 81% | 57,179 |
| 8 years | 8,050 | 82% | 78% | 69,249 |
| 9 years | 8,948 | 79% | 75% | 77,590 |
| 10 years | 7,014 | 78% | 72% | 88,751 |
| 11 years | 6,034 | 74% | 69% | 97,942 |
| 12 years | 7,086 | 72% | 66% | 105,568 |
| 13 years | 6,648 | 71% | 63% | 111,473 |
| 14 years | 3,830 | 73% | 61% | 115,986 |
| 15 years | 815 | 71% | 59% | 118,627 |
| 16 years | 1,178 | 70% | 58% | 119,472 |
| 17 years | 1,253 | 68% | 57% | 124,450 |
| 18 years | 1,777 | 67% | 57% | 132,337 |
| 19 years | 2,369 | 65% | 57% | 138,304 |
| 20 years | 2,008 | 62% | 58% | 141,622 |
What fails most on a BMW X3
The area that lets the X3 down most, relative to other cars, is seat belts and airbags: 0.9% of tests failed on it, 2.8 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on body and structure and emissions and leaks.
Share of X3 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 4.2% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 2.9% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 2.8% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 2.6% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 2.2% |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 2.0% |
What to check when buying a used X3
Based on where the X3 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Seat belts and airbags: Pull every belt out fully and let it retract, check the buckles latch, and make sure the airbag light goes out after starting. More
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific X3
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a X3Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW X3?
In 2025, 79% of BMW X3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 88,996 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 73%.
What do BMW X3 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (4.2% of tests); a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (2.9% of tests); a tyre seriously damaged (2.8% of tests).
Other BMW models
BMW 3 Series (73%), BMW 118 (79%), BMW X1 (82%), BMW 116 (72%), BMW 1 Series (78%), BMW X5 (79%). All BMW models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.