Verdict
The BMW iX3 passes its MOT first time on 85.1% of tests, 1.4 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (86.5%). That puts it ahead of 33% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2021 iX3 does best (beats 57% of cars) and the 2023 worst (beats 14%).
The MOT doesn’t test an electric car’s battery or motor, so ask for a battery health report too, and electric cars have no exhaust emissions test, which flatters the comparison a little.
Better than average on lights & electrics, brakes.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 85.1% | Beats 33% | D |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Tyre damage & cracking 2.1× typical
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre. - Indicator side repeaters 6.9× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid. - Windscreen wipers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Tyre tread depth
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. - Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left. - Shock absorbers
Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyre damage & cracking | 8.5% | 4.0% | 2.1× |
| Windscreen wipers | 2.2% | 2.1% | 1.0× |
| Tyre tread depth | 1.4% | 1.6% | 0.9× |
| Indicator side repeaters | 1.1% | 0.2% | 6.9× |
| Windscreen washers | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0× |
| Headlight aim | 0.8% | 1.6% | 0.5× |
| Shock absorbers | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1.1× |
| Number plates | 0.3% | 0.2% | 1.4× |
| Suspension ball joints | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1.2× |
| Tyre pressure warning (TPMS) | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.6× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A tyre seriously damaged | 57.9 |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | 31.5 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 21.9 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 14.2 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 12.0 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 10.0 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 7.7 |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 2.8 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2023 BMW iX31 engine83.3% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 83.3% | Beats 14% | E |
2022 BMW iX31 engine84.5% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 84.5% | Beats 24% | D |
2021 BMW iX31 engine86.6% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 86.6% | Beats 57% | C |
FAQ
What is the BMW iX3 MOT pass rate?
85.1% of MOT tests on the BMW iX3 were passed first time, based on 21,088 tests between 2024 and 2026 of cars first registered 2021–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 86.5% of the time.
Is the BMW iX3 reliable?
On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 33% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which BMW iX3 year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2021 iX3 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 57% of cars on UK roads. The 2023 does worst: it beats 14%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the BMW iX3?
The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, windscreen wipers, tyre tread depth. Compared with similar cars, tyre damage & cracking comes up 2.1× as often.