BMW 340I Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 340I car check
Is the BMW 340I reliable? We analysed 6,637 real MOT tests across 996 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 340I? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 340I is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 340I.
BMW 340I Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 340I. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 340I MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 340I to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 340I Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 340I models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW 340I Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 340I owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 340I MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 340I year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 452 | 92.3% | 18,289 | 28,244 | 42,992 |
| 2018 | 1,237 | 92.7% | 21,614 | 33,002 | 47,512 |
| 2017 | 3,800 | 91.2% | 25,881 | 39,035 | 56,907 |
| 2016 | 1,054 | 91.8% | 27,232 | 41,543 | 58,920 |
How Long Does a BMW 340I Last?
Based on 996 BMW 340I vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 340I Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 340I 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 340I
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
92.7% MOT pass rate from 1,237 tests
91.2% MOT pass rate from 3,800 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 340I is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.7% across 1,237 tests. The 2017 model year has the lowest pass rate at 91.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 340I Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 340I THIS CAR | 91.6% | 6,637 | 37,417 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 |
| Chevrolet Gmc Camaro | 80% | 9,912 | 66,600 mi | 59 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 340I outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 340I 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 340IShould you buy a used BMW 340I?
The BMW 340I has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.6% across 6,637 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 340I 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 340I owner drives around 6,221 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 340I 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.