BMW 325 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 325 car check
Is the BMW 325 reliable? We analysed 4,679 real MOT tests across 604 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 325? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 325 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 325.
BMW 325 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 325. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 325 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 325 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 325 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW 325 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW 325 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 325 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW 325 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 325 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 325 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 325 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 101 | 91.1% | 42,594 | 61,571 | 78,023 |
| 2011 | 164 | 88.4% | 50,344 | 70,258 | 93,619 |
| 2010 | 353 | 84.4% | 44,820 | 71,532 | 93,664 |
| 2009 | 482 | 80.7% | 46,315 | 66,712 | 87,530 |
| 2008 | 294 | 79.6% | 46,793 | 68,054 | 104,730 |
| 2007 | 741 | 77.5% | 50,485 | 74,386 | 106,557 |
| 2006 | 455 | 80.2% | 48,289 | 77,315 | 109,966 |
| 2005 | 375 | 81.3% | 44,602 | 70,665 | 108,318 |
| 2004 | 138 | 74.6% | 34,882 | 60,176 | 93,766 |
| 2003 | 274 | 76.3% | 47,161 | 73,135 | 96,083 |
| 2002 | 234 | 73.9% | 54,525 | 77,451 | 103,463 |
| 2001 | 336 | 72.3% | 60,726 | 80,293 | 110,123 |
| 1991 | 55 | 81.8% | 90,192 | 124,688 | 149,826 |
| 1990 | 52 | 82.7% | 68,013 | 79,536 | 160,879 |
| 1989 | 170 | 74.7% | 91,013 | 121,450 | 154,319 |
| 1988 | 74 | 75.7% | 78,921 | 93,632 | 123,890 |
| 1987 | 78 | 76.9% | 85,684 | 101,761 | 123,372 |
How Long Does a BMW 325 Last?
Based on 604 BMW 325 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 325 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 325 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 325
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
91.1% MOT pass rate from 101 tests
72.3% MOT pass rate from 336 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 325 is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.1% across 101 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 325 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 325 THIS CAR | 79.3% | 4,679 | 74,902 mi | 39 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 |
| Renault Captur Iconic Tce Auto | 91% | 6,321 | 22,331 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 325 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 325 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 325Should you buy a used BMW 325?
The BMW 325 has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.3% across 4,679 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm with 47 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a BMW 325 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical BMW 325 owner drives around 4,833 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 325 models stay on UK roads for around 39 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.