BMW 328 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 328 car check
Is the BMW 328 reliable? We analysed 1,112 real MOT tests across 194 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 328? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 328 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint, suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 328.
BMW 328 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 328. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 328 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 328 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 328 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW 328 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW 328 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 328 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW 328 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 328 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 328 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 328 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 98 | 84.7% | 32,819 | 47,571 | 75,269 |
| 2014 | 82 | 81.7% | 50,459 | 83,981 | 103,826 |
| 2013 | 207 | 84.5% | 32,336 | 47,922 | 68,933 |
| 2012 | 166 | 80.7% | 39,795 | 63,604 | 82,959 |
| 2000 | 54 | 70.4% | 73,414 | 93,409 | 102,112 |
| 1999 | 93 | 72.0% | 61,000 | 76,806 | 106,227 |
| 1998 | 120 | 66.7% | 47,404 | 86,861 | 125,579 |
| 1997 | 72 | 83.3% | 68,316 | 110,258 | 118,912 |
| 1996 | 79 | 78.5% | 70,834 | 83,819 | 91,289 |
How Long Does a BMW 328 Last?
Based on 194 BMW 328 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 328 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 328 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 328
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
84.7% MOT pass rate from 98 tests
66.7% MOT pass rate from 120 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 328 is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.7% across 98 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 328 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 328 THIS CAR | 78.1% | 1,112 | 70,696 mi | 30 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 |
| Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 11 | 78.1% | 1,463 | 81,935 mi | 49 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 328 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 328 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 328Should you buy a used BMW 328?
The BMW 328 has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.1% across 1,112 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 328 are suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (11 recorded failures), suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (8), and brake pipe excessively corroded (8). 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.
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 328 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 328 owner drives around 4,326 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 328 models stay on UK roads for around 30 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.