Executive car · 1996–2021 cars

BMW M3 reliability

The BMW M3 fails 12.5% of first MOT tests, 62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 64,208 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 99/100#2 of 40 executive cars

Checking a BMW M3 before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 12.5%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 62% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 64,208; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 6,400; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the BMW M3 ages

Each point is the share of BMW M3s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

BMW M3All cars

BMW M3 first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	BMW M3	All cars
3	4.4%	12.3%
4	9.9%	14.1%
5	8.8%	16.4%
6	8.4%	19.1%
7	7.8%	22.1%
8	6.3%	25.5%
9	6%	28.8%
10	10.1%	31.8%
11	10.8%	34.6%
12	11.5%	37.3%
13	11.8%	39.5%
14	13.6%	41.1%
15	11.4%	42.3%
16	13.7%	42.9%
17	17.4%	43.4%
18	17.4%	43.5%
19	18%	43.4%
20	16%	42.8%
21	15.7%	41.4%
22	19.8%	40.6%
23	16.7%	38.9%
24	17.6%	37.1%
25	19.6%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst BMW M3 years

2007 cars come out best and 2017 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

BMW M3 MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	889	2%	81% fewer fails	20,672
2018 M3	4,515	6.8%	53% fewer fails	32,804
2017 M3	5,433	9.1%	46% fewer fails	39,893
2016 M3	4,425	7.8%	61% fewer fails	45,633
2015 M3	3,384	7.2%	69% fewer fails	56,314
2014 M3	1,383	8.9%	66% fewer fails	59,735
2013 M3	1,719	8.8%	65% fewer fails	48,578
2012 M3	2,509	9.5%	67% fewer fails	57,057
2011 M3	2,746	11.4%	65% fewer fails	64,638
2010 M3	2,762	12.7%	64% fewer fails	70,166
2009 M3	3,023	11.2%	71% fewer fails	77,383
2008 M3	4,763	13.1%	67% fewer fails	80,804
2007 M3	1,864	12%	71% fewer fails	87,173
2006 M3	1,253	16.4%	59% fewer fails	80,873
2005 M3	3,569	16.6%	61% fewer fails	89,792
2004 M3	5,193	16.5%	61% fewer fails	95,621
2003 M3	7,018	16.7%	61% fewer fails	99,394
2002 M3	4,610	18.4%	57% fewer fails	103,110
2001 M3	1,126	18.9%	55% fewer fails	108,624
1999	577	15.9%	57% fewer fails	89,373
1998	746	20.4%	44% fewer fails	94,946
1997	334	21.3%	42% fewer fails	105,034

Common problems

What fails most on a BMW M3

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics3.8%73% below avg
Tyres3.1%49% below avg
Suspension2.8%75% below avg
Brakes2.8%67% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.8%59% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors1.8%68% below avg
Seat belts and airbags0.7%59% below avg
Body, chassis and structure0.7%87% below avg
Number plates and VIN0.6%30% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.04% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
2
Coil spring fractured or broken 0.83% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
3
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 0.69% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 0.64% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
5
Headlamp aim set too low 0.62% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
6
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.55% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
7
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 0.53% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
8
Lambda reading outside specified limits 0.51% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a BMW M3's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit6.18%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy4.46%
Brake disc pitted or scored2.9%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking2.23%
Engine oil leak, not excessive1.84%
Transmission oil leak, not excessive1.43%

Before you buy

What to check on a used BMW M3

1
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
2
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
3
Engine warning light inoperative or lit
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical BMW M3 covers about 6,400 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol100%
Diesel0%
LPG0%

Most common colours

Black, Blue, White, Grey, Silver

Average engine size: 3.4 litres.

Compare

How the BMW M3 compares with its rivals

BMW M3 against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
BMW M3	12.5%	62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Audi A7	13.9%	48% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW 6 Series	18.6%	40% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW M4	10.5%	39% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz CLS	24%	24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volvo S60	29%	15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jaguar S-Type	37.2%	10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

Every executive car ranked in the executive car reliability index, or all BMW models.

Questions

BMW M3 questions, answered

Is the BMW M3 reliable?

On MOT results, the BMW M3 is better than average: it fails 12.5% of first MOT tests, 62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 2 of 40 executive car models in our index.

What fails most on a BMW M3 MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the BMW M3 are tyre ply or cords exposed (1.04% of tests), coil spring fractured or broken (0.83% of tests), engine warning light inoperative or lit (0.69% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 3.8% of its tests.

Which BMW M3 year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2007 cars do best (71% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2017 cars do worst (46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a BMW M3 do a year?

A typical BMW M3 covers about 6,400 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a BMW M3 before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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