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BMW 316D Es Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free BMW 316D Es car check

Is the BMW 316D Es reliable? We analysed 888 real MOT tests across 167 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 888 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.3%
Typical Mileage
123,511mi
Annual Mileage
8,195mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The BMW 316D Es is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords, mechanical brake component has restricted free movement and shock absorber has a serious fluid leak. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 316D Es.

BMW 316D Es Number Plates

Number plates registered to a BMW 316D Es. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

BMW 316D Es Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a BMW 316D Es fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 4
Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement 1
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 1

BMW 316D Es Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical BMW 316D Es owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,563 mi/yr
Typical
8,195 mi/yr
Average
9,137 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,352 mi/yr

BMW 316D Es Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all BMW 316D Es MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
123,511 mi
75th Percentile
152,418 mi
95th Percentile
191,008 mi
Max Recorded
264,833 mi

How Does the BMW 316D Es Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
BMW 316D Es THIS CAR 81.3% 888 123,511 mi — 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
Iveco 35-10 60.6% 813 125,626 mi 30 yrs

Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 316D Es sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used BMW 316D Es?

The BMW 316D Es has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.3% across 888 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the BMW 316D Es are tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4 recorded failures), mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (1), and shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (1). 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 316D Es owner drives around 8,195 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.

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.

BMW 316D Es — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the BMW 316D Es reliable?
Based on 888 MOT tests, the BMW 316D Es has a 81.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a BMW 316D Es?
The most common MOT failures are tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords, mechanical brake component has restricted free movement, and shock absorber has a serious fluid leak. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a BMW 316D Es do per year?
The typical BMW 316D Es does around 8,195 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a BMW 316D Es last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a BMW 316D Es?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.