BMW 330 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 330 car check
Is the BMW 330 reliable? We analysed 130,552 real MOT tests across 24,109 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 330? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 330 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 330.
BMW 330 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 330. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 330 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 330 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 330 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 330 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW 330 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 330 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 330 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 330 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 593 | 88.2% | 31,118 | 45,853 | 59,603 |
| 2020 | 20,979 | 86.8% | 31,452 | 45,046 | 62,654 |
| 2019 | 20,188 | 87.8% | 32,912 | 48,203 | 67,398 |
| 2018 | 21,323 | 88.3% | 38,196 | 54,898 | 75,617 |
| 2017 | 50,258 | 88.6% | 39,762 | 58,094 | 79,747 |
| 2016 | 10,493 | 87.9% | 40,844 | 60,409 | 84,256 |
| 2015 | 612 | 85.3% | 48,590 | 69,994 | 95,221 |
| 2014 | 539 | 85.7% | 52,408 | 92,560 | 126,594 |
| 2013 | 470 | 83.2% | 43,536 | 75,633 | 109,529 |
| 2012 | 252 | 81.3% | 43,865 | 65,506 | 97,127 |
| 2011 | 210 | 83.3% | 39,782 | 58,587 | 100,781 |
| 2010 | 173 | 83.8% | 47,114 | 70,827 | 105,660 |
| 2009 | 206 | 79.6% | 49,173 | 78,903 | 114,515 |
| 2008 | 272 | 78.3% | 39,341 | 68,733 | 102,668 |
| 2007 | 354 | 78.5% | 58,127 | 85,006 | 121,928 |
| 2006 | 534 | 76.2% | 64,728 | 107,250 | 140,068 |
| 2005 | 360 | 77.5% | 59,852 | 91,614 | 128,120 |
| 2004 | 347 | 76.7% | 33,668 | 62,390 | 99,066 |
| 2003 | 290 | 78.6% | 42,722 | 78,760 | 112,728 |
| 2002 | 327 | 75.2% | 66,092 | 85,631 | 116,073 |
How Long Does a BMW 330 Last?
Based on 24,109 BMW 330 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 330 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 330 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 330
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.6% MOT pass rate from 50,258 tests
75.2% MOT pass rate from 327 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 330 is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.6% across 50,258 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 330 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 330 THIS CAR | 87.7% | 130,552 | 54,284 mi | 10 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 |
| Toyota Supra | 74.9% | 81,448 | 109,957 mi | 40 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 330 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 330 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 330Should you buy a used BMW 330?
The BMW 330 has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.7% across 130,552 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
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 330 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 330 owner drives around 8,453 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 330 models stay on UK roads for around 10 years. If you're buying one that's already well within 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.