Car statistics by year
2003 BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 Series cars first registered in 2003: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 2003, so like is set against like.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 67.2% All 2003 cars 58.9%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 116,000 miles; all 2003 cars 100,300
- Left at the end of 2025 16,133 32.7% of the 49,311 at the end of 2014
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 8.2% All 2003 cars 9.1%
- Tests with an advisory 68.4% All 2003 cars 69.0%
- MOT tests in 2025 9,031 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 2003 BMW 3 Series do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 22 years old, 67.2% of 2003 BMW 3 Series MOT tests were passed first time, against 58.9% for all cars first registered in 2003. 2003 BMW 3 Series did better than average for their age, by 8.3 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 65.6% of the time (all 2003 cars 57.4%).
MOT pass rate by year of first registration: BMW 3 Series vs all cars
Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each BMW 3 Series bar with the all-cars bar beside it.
| First registered | BMW 3 Series | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| ’97 | 70.0% | 68.5% |
| ’98 | 68.4% | 67.1% |
| ’99 | 69.1% | 65.4% |
| ’00 | 66.5% | 63.1% |
| ’01 | 65.5% | 61.5% |
| ’02 | 66.7% | 59.7% |
| ’03 | 67.2% | 58.9% |
| ’04 | 66.9% | 57.9% |
| ’05 | 66.1% | 57.7% |
| ’06 | 67.4% | 56.9% |
| ’07 | 68.1% | 57.3% |
| ’08 | 67.8% | 57.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures on the 2003 BMW 3 Series
Parking brake efficiency below requirements was the most common single reason a 2003 BMW 3 Series failed, on 14.5% of about 3,000 failed tests. By area of the car, brakes failed most often (38.9% of failed tests; all 2003 cars 29.5%). 8.2% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 9.1% for all cars first registered in 2003. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common reasons for failure
Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes | 14.5% |
| SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 8.2% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 7.9% |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded Brakes | 7.5% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.2% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.9% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 6.4% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 6.2% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 5.6% |
| Linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Suspension | 5.5% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: BMW 3 Series vs all 2003 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Brakes | 38.9% |
| Suspension | 36.8% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 35.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 17.5% |
| Tyres | 17.0% |
| Visibility | 16.7% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 10.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 9.9% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 2003 BMW 3 Series
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 68.4% of 2003 BMW 3 Series tests had at least one (all 2003 cars 69.0%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.
Most common advisories
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 26.5% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 20.8% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 16.2% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 9.0% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 8.6% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 7.7% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 6.7% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 6.4% |
| Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated Brakes | 5.4% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 5.2% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 2003 BMW 3 Series?
Half of the 2003 BMW 3 Series tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 116,000 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 89,100 and a quarter more than 146,200. For all cars first registered in 2003, the middle figure was 100,300 miles, so 2003 BMW 3 Series have been driven 15.7% further than average.
Mileage at the 2025 MOT
Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.
| 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 BMW 3 Series | 66,000 | 89,100 | 116,000 | 146,200 | 176,800 | 8,610 |
| All 2003 cars | 50,300 | 72,000 | 100,300 | 133,000 | 167,000 | 234,392 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
How many 2003 BMW 3 Series are left?
At the end of 2014, 49,311 2003 BMW 3 Series were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom (these counts start in 2014). By the end of 2025, 16,133 were: 7,250 licensed and 8,883 declared off the road (SORN). That is 32.7% still on the record, against 23.0% for all cars first registered in 2003.
Share still on the record since 2014
Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2014. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.
| Year end | 2003 BMW 3 Series | All 2003 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2015 | 94.5% | 91.9% |
| 2016 | 87.6% | 82.8% |
| 2017 | 77.7% | 71.0% |
| 2018 | 67.1% | 59.8% |
| 2019 | 58.4% | 50.5% |
| 2020 | 51.6% | 43.6% |
| 2021 | 45.8% | 37.0% |
| 2022 | 41.5% | 32.6% |
| 2023 | 38.6% | 29.2% |
| 2024 | 34.9% | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 32.7% | 23.0% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Recalls that may affect cars built around 2003
4 of the BMW 3 Series’s 67 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2003. 2 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.
The 2003 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2003 may have been built in 2002, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.
| Launched | Concern | Built | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Dec 2025 | Takata Driver and/or Passenger Airbag Recall (Global VINs) | 30 Oct 1997 to 8 Nov 2017 | 43,344 |
| 6 Oct 2025 | Replace the Front Passenger Airbag Takata PSPI | 3 May 1999 to 24 Aug 2006 | 102,611 |
| 1 Nov 2016 | Drivers airbag may deploy incorrectly | 1 Mar 2002 to 31 Dec 2003 | 218,559 (all models) |
| 26 Jul 2013 | Passenger side airbag may fail to deploy correctly | 1 May 1999 to 31 Aug 2006 | 316,043 |
Every BMW 3 Series recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls
Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated
Other years of the BMW 3 Series
32 years of the BMW 3 Series, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2007 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (68.1% passed first time) and the 1995 cars worst (66.8%).
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | – | 1,793 | 80.1% |
| 1989 | – | 2,786 | 81.2% |
| 1990 | – | 3,420 | 79.3% |
| 1991 | – | 2,120 | 80.0% |
| 1995 | – | 2,926 | 66.8% |
| 1996 | – | 3,932 | 68.6% |
| 1997 | – | 4,847 | 70.0% |
| 1998 | – | 5,555 | 68.4% |
| 1999 | – | 7,031 | 69.1% |
| 2000 | – | 7,583 | 66.5% |
| 2001 | – | 10,968 | 65.5% |
| 2002 | – | 14,361 | 66.7% |
| 2003 | – | 16,133 | 67.2% |
| 2004 | – | 13,939 | 66.9% |
| 2005 | – | 14,137 | 66.1% |
| 2006 | – | 19,509 | 67.4% |
| 2007 | – | 25,610 | 68.1% |
| 2008 | – | 21,773 | 67.8% |
| 2009 | – | 21,621 | 66.8% |
| 2010 | – | 24,475 | 67.9% |
| 2011 | – | 26,663 | 69.2% |
| 2012 | – | 32,763 | 68.1% |
| 2013 | – | 34,496 | 73.0% |
| 2014 | 36,711 | 32,348 | 75.7% |
| 2015 | 34,505 | 31,612 | 79.7% |
| 2016 | 34,360 | 31,318 | 83.2% |
| 2017 | 33,404 | 30,114 | 84.4% |
| 2018 | 25,623 | 23,947 | 85.7% |
| 2019 | 25,122 | 24,201 | 87.0% |
| 2020 | 20,371 | 18,956 | 87.1% |
| 2021 | 22,310 | 20,374 | 87.0% |
| 2022 | 11,299 | 10,292 | 85.2% |
Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT results and mileage | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 9,031 MOT tests of 2003 BMW 3 Series cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 16,133 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
- MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of BMW 3 Series cars first registered in 2003; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2003.
- Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
- Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
- Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
- Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
- DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.