2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 BMW m3 MOT pass rate and common faults

957 MOT tests in 2024. 83.0% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

147Well above average
Passed first time83.0%
Failed or needed repairs17.0%
Typical mileage at test90,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 957 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.3%
  2. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.1%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.1%
    16 marked dangerous
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.1%
  5. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.0%
  6. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn0.9%
  7. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault0.8%
  8. Coil spring: fractured or broken0.8%
  9. Washers: not working0.7%
  10. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.6%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes7.6%
  2. Lights & electrics5.2%
  3. Suspension4.6%
  4. Tyres3.7%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.8%
  6. Emissions & leaks2.5%
  7. Seat belts & airbags1.4%
  8. Body & chassis0.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded12.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm8.5%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure4.3%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened4.0%
  5. Transmission oil leaks: leaking excessively from transmission3.6%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2004 m3All m3 years2006 m3 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 BMW m3?

In 2024, 83.0% of 2005 BMW m3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 957 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 BMW m3?

The most common failure reasons were malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; service brake performance: excessively binding; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2005 BMW m3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 147, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).