BMW X3
From 176,658 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer X3s fare better: 2021 models pass at 93.1% vs 72.7% for 2004.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 3,113 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 3,113 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 3,046 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 2,736 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 2,067 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,971 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 1,880 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 1,818 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 1,767 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,506 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 1,275 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 51.9% of failures are serious: 39% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 12.9% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £94.
The warranty question
A new X3 passes its MOT 91.5% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 84.8%, a 6.7 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 79.5%. With an average repair bill of £94 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a X3 that's past its third birthday.
BMW X3 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 8,088 newly registered in the past year with 3,620 leaving, a net gain of 4,468. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 118,765 | 5,195 | +2,262 | -1,020 | +1,242 |
| 2025 Q2 | 117,607 | 5,111 | +2,257 | -719 | +1,538 |
| 2025 Q1 | 116,086 | 5,094 | +1,759 | -842 | +917 |
| 2024 Q4 | 115,445 | 4,818 | +1,810 | -1,039 | +771 |
| 2024 Q3 | 114,931 | 4,561 | +1,716 | -1,174 | +542 |
| 2024 Q2 | 114,625 | 4,325 | +1,500 | -981 | +519 |
| 2024 Q1 | 114,164 | 4,267 | +1,306 | -428 | +878 |
| 2023 Q4 | 113,543 | 4,010 | +2,060 | -537 | +1,523 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| X3 Xdrive20D M Sport Auto | Diesel | 28,060 | 27% |
| X3 Xdrive20D Se Auto | Diesel | 13,864 | 13% |
| X3 Xdrive20D M Sport Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 11,517 | 11% |
| X3 Xdrive30D M Sport Auto | Diesel | 7,867 | 8% |
| X3 Xdrive30E M Sport Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 7,431 | 7% |
| X3 Xdrive20D Xline Auto | Diesel | 5,351 | 5% |
| X3 Xdrive20I M Sport Auto | Petrol | 4,638 | 4% |
| X3 Xdrive20I M Sport Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 3,973 | 4% |
| X3 M40I Auto | Petrol | 2,800 | 3% |
| X3 Xdrive20D Se | Diesel | 2,784 | 3% |
| X3 Xdrive20 M Sport Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,378 | 2% |
| X3 Xdrive35D M Sport Auto | Diesel | 1,997 | 2% |
| X3 M Competition Auto | Petrol | 1,912 | 2% |
| X3 Xdrive30D M Sport Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Diesel) | 1,607 | 2% |
| X3 M40I Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,576 | 2% |
| X3 Xdrive30D Se Auto | Diesel | 1,354 | 1% |
| X3 M40D Auto | Diesel | 1,272 | 1% |
| X3 Se | Diesel | 1,254 | 1% |
| X3 Xdrive30E Xline Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,170 | 1% |
| X3 Sport Auto | Petrol | 1,167 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 93.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2020 | 91.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2019 | 90.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2018 | 90.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
14 earlier years
| 2017 | 87.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 84.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 83.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 80.3% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 79.5% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 78.4% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2011 | 80.4% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2010 | 80.6% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2009 | 78.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2008 | 76.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2007 | 71.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2006 | 71.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2005 | 70.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2004 | 72.7% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all X3s tested had between 29,843 and 46,725 miles on the clock.
At 40,188 median miles, the X3 has 0.04 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X1 | 86.5% |
Common questions
What is the BMW X3 MOT pass rate?
The BMW X3 has a 83.9% MOT pass rate based on 176,658 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW X3?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW X3 is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 3,113 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
How many BMW X3s are on UK roads?
There are 118,765 BMW X3s currently licensed on UK roads, with 5,195 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW X3 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW X3 is 40,188 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 29,843 and 46,725 miles.
Buying a used X3?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 83.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £94 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.