2021 · 3 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2021 BMW m3 MOT pass rate and common faults

684 MOT tests in 2024. 94.4% passed first time, compared with 87.6% for all cars the same age.

108Above average
Passed first time94.4%
Failed or needed repairs5.6%
Typical mileage at test20,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 684 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.3%
    13 marked dangerous
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.0%
    15 marked dangerous
  3. Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements1.0%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.9%
  5. Headlamp aim: too high0.6%
  6. Seat belts - condition: buckle not functioning as intended0.3%
  7. Headlamp levelling device: inoperative0.1%
  8. Side repeaters: not working0.1%

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres3.4%
  2. Number plates & VIN1.2%
  3. Lights & electrics1.0%
  4. Seat belts & airbags0.4%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)0.3%
  6. Wheels0.1%
  7. Steering0.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm8.3%
  2. Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre2.3%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.9%
  4. Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm1.6%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.9%

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: tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2018 m3All m3 years

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 BMW m3?

In 2024, 94.4% of 2021 BMW m3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 684 tests. The average for all 3-year-old cars was 87.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2021 BMW m3?

The most common failure reasons were tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2021 BMW m3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 108, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).