Does the BMW 3 Series fail the MOT on visibility more than it should?
The BMW 3 Series records 7.76 visibility failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 8.61 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−0.85, 95% interval −0.88 to −0.81). It ranks 407 of 746 models on visibility (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on visibility · check a BMW 3 Series by registration
What exactly fails on visibility?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the BMW 3 Series is “Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view”, recorded 106,079 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 106,079 | 3.41 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 54,609 | 1.76 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 33,095 | 1.06 |
| Wiper blade defective | 22,672 | 0.73 |
| Obligatory mirror or device slightly damaged or loose | 9,502 | 0.31 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,110,401 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a BMW 3 Series gets a visibility advisory, how often does it fail next time?
12.5% of BMW 3 Series MOTs with a visibility advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 6,648 miles later (2,160 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,160 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
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