Reliability report
BMW X3 reliability and common faults
Based on 110,745 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
16.7%
fail rate · average 21.8%
much better than average
89,945 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
37.0%
with defects · average 46.1%
much better than average
3,649 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
64.4%
first-time pass · average 58.0%
much better than average
17,151 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the BMW X3
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Driving controls
Wheels
Seat belts and airbags
Plates and identification
Tyres
Suspension
Visibility
Lights and electrics
Exhaust and emissions
Brakes
Body and structure
Steering
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 4Tyre insufficient tread
- 5Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 6Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 7Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 8Tyre damaged
- 9Spring broken or cracked
- 10Rear light not working (properly)
- 11Airbag / seatbelt system warning light indicates a fault
- 12eCall onboard system warning indicator shows fault
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 8.6% avg 9.9% | 17.8% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 11.1% avg 15.3% | 20.1% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 18.1% avg 22.9% | 35.3% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 22.5% avg 30.3% | 49.4% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 27.2% avg 34.6% | 63.2% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 27.0% avg 31.4% | — |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | X3 | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 73.8% | 61.4% | 42 |
| 2021 | 67.7% | 86.7% | 68 |
| 2020 | 62.5% | 78.6% | 104 |
| 2019 | 63.2% | 83.2% | 329 |
| 2018 | 72.5% | 79.5% | 404 |
| 2017 | 72.9% | 76.6% | 612 |
| 2016 | 63.3% | 72.8% | 670 |
| 2015 | 66.5% | 71.1% | 743 |
| 2014 | 67.0% | 68.0% | 1,117 |
| 2013 | 68.3% | 65.9% | 1,494 |
| 2012 | 65.6% | 63.7% | 1,343 |
| 2011 | 68.4% | 61.2% | 1,488 |
| 2010 | 67.0% | 57.3% | 191 |
| 2009 | 64.7% | 54.5% | 312 |
| 2008 | 68.0% | 52.4% | 750 |
BMW X3 – FAQs
How reliable is the BMW X3?+
In the UK the BMW X3 fails 16.7% of MOT tests, against an average of 21.8% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 37.0% of APK inspections (average there 46.1%) – much better than average. In Lithuania 64.4% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 58.0%) – much better than average.
What should I check when buying a used BMW X3?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Tyre insufficient tread; Excessive leakage of other fluids. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More BMW models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).