BMW 316 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 316 car check
Is the BMW 316 reliable? We analysed 1,210,990 real MOT tests across 108,989 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 316? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 316 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 316.
BMW 316 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 316. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 316 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 316 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 316 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW 316 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW 316 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 316 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 316 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 316 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 220 | 90.0% | 36,992 | 52,480 | 77,215 |
| 2018 | 2,278 | 87.8% | 39,346 | 57,092 | 79,077 |
| 2017 | 6,266 | 87.2% | 47,720 | 66,662 | 88,588 |
| 2016 | 5,100 | 83.3% | 55,082 | 77,541 | 102,377 |
| 2015 | 8,085 | 82.6% | 50,275 | 75,138 | 103,563 |
| 2014 | 19,256 | 81.5% | 42,872 | 67,042 | 95,266 |
| 2013 | 17,670 | 81.8% | 42,584 | 65,769 | 93,544 |
| 2012 | 8,234 | 78.2% | 58,845 | 87,701 | 119,620 |
| 2011 | 5,387 | 78.8% | 75,289 | 103,133 | 132,500 |
| 2010 | 7,953 | 78.5% | 78,015 | 108,675 | 139,641 |
| 2009 | 3,386 | 77.1% | 69,522 | 101,854 | 132,481 |
| 2008 | 266 | 77.4% | 55,095 | 81,025 | 111,538 |
| 2007 | 272 | 75.4% | 53,630 | 88,759 | 126,614 |
| 2006 | 350 | 74.9% | 59,361 | 81,192 | 107,628 |
| 2005 | 7,455 | 72.9% | 43,434 | 68,130 | 93,678 |
| 2004 | 105,604 | 72.6% | 45,413 | 69,782 | 95,255 |
| 2003 | 124,520 | 73.3% | 47,816 | 73,348 | 99,645 |
| 2002 | 120,279 | 71.8% | 54,227 | 79,198 | 105,116 |
| 2001 | 105,791 | 69.4% | 60,834 | 85,754 | 112,146 |
| 2000 | 108,628 | 68.2% | 68,144 | 92,172 | 118,190 |
How Long Does a BMW 316 Last?
Based on 108,989 BMW 316 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 316 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 316 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 316
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.0% MOT pass rate from 220 tests
60.0% MOT pass rate from 55 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 316 is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.0% across 220 tests. The 1976 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 316 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 316 THIS CAR | 69.2% | 1,210,990 | 91,442 mi | 38 yrs |
| BMW 3 Series | 75.1% | 12,840,406 | 90,743 mi | 37 yrs |
| BMW 118 | 81.5% | 1,923,256 | 64,042 mi | 22 yrs |
| BMW X5 | 77% | 1,735,343 | 83,401 mi | 25 yrs |
| Volkswagen Beetle | 71.7% | 1,719,137 | 66,233 mi | 56 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 316 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 316 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific BMW 316Should you buy a used BMW 316?
The BMW 316 has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.2% across 1,210,990 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the BMW 316 are brake pipe excessively corroded (71,150 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (70,761), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (45,241). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical BMW 316 owner drives around 5,781 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most BMW 316 models stay on UK roads for around 38 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.