Used car guide

2020 BMW 330E: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 BMW 330Es, from 3,672 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,672MOT tests in 2025
88%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
11,600typical miles a year
4.3×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2020 BMW 330Es than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Ball joint4.3× usual
    BMW 330E
    2.6% All 2020 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.2% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Brake pads: 1.4% here, against 9.3% of all 2020 cars. Brake discs: 1.3% here, against 9% of all 2020 cars.

By area

The share of 2020 BMW 330E MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    27% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Suspension
    5% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    3% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    3% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    3% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a BMW 330E?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023285Tyres 29%
20226,564Tyres 32%
202110,249Tyres 28%
2019570Tyres 28%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2020 BMW 330Es registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score