Used car guide

2020 BMW 3 Series: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the BMW 3 Series first registered in 2020: we looked at the 3,166 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,166MOTs of 2020 cars, done in 2025
87%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
9,300typical miles a year
24%had tyres flagged

Common 2020 BMW 3 Series MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2020 BMW 3 Series MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    24% 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.

  • Brakes
    11% 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.

  • Suspension
    4% 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
    3% 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
    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.

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

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

Known faults on the 2020 BMW 3 Series

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Electrical and infotainment glitches

    All engines

    In What Car?'s survey 13% of petrol and plug-in hybrid cars had a fault, mostly minor electrical, engine and infotainment glitches.

    At the viewing: Test the infotainment and all the electrics, and make sure no warning lights show.

    Source: What Car?: BMW 3 Series (2019 on) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2020 BMW 3 Series

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a BMW 3 Series?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the BMW 3 Series compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022–Too few tests
2021386Tyres 22%
201911,430Tyres 25%
20188,504Tyres 26%
20173,622Tyres 26%
201624,243Tyres 27%
201530,049Tyres 29%
201429,426Tyres 31%
201331,654Tyres 30%
201230,461Tyres 32%
201124,841Tyres 34%
201022,691Suspension 38%
200920,166Suspension 40%
200819,093Suspension 42%
200721,666Brakes 42%
200615,748Brakes 46%
20059,866Brakes 45%
20047,889Brakes 43%
20038,471Brakes 43%
20026,561Brakes 42%
20014,182Brakes 40%
20002,180Brakes 42%
19992,166Brakes 36%
19981,679Suspension 34%
19971,277Brakes 36%
1996917Brakes 36%
1995607Brakes 36%
1994357Suspension 33%
1993374Suspension 31%
1992404Suspension 27%
1991629Suspension 24%
19901,072Suspension 24%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests
1978–Too few tests
1977–Too few tests
1976–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, counting the MOTs of BMW 3 Series cars first registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score