Used car guide

2021 BMW 330E M Sport Auto: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 BMW 330E M Sport Autos, from 6,046 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,046MOT tests in 2025
86%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
12,800typical miles a year
4.2×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 BMW 330E M Sport Autos than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Ball joint4.2× usual
    BMW 330E M Sport Auto
    2.5% All 2021 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.2% of all 2021 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.

  • Shock absorbers2× usual
    BMW 330E M Sport Auto
    3.4% All 2021 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.3% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Better than most

Brake discs: 0.6% here, against 7.1% of all 2021 cars. Brake pads: 0.9% here, against 6.8% of all 2021 cars.

By area

The share of 2021 BMW 330E M Sport Auto MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% 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
    7% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    5% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Lights and electrics
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

  • Brakes
    2% 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.

Looking at a BMW 330E M Sport Auto?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20223,627Tyres 31%
20201,484Tyres 25%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 BMW 330E M Sport Autos registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score