BMW 330 Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 1,334 MOT tests from 208 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore. The figures below describe that VehicleScore sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore MOT data are not a claim that every BMW 330 has the same fault.

BMW 330's have a extremely good reliability rating of 797/999. The score was calculated from the average of every BMW 330 that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

BMW 330 (example)

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
N/A	N/A	827/999Excellent	78,206 miles	701 vehicles
N/A	N/A	822/999Excellent	74,170 miles	2,843 vehicles
N/A	N/A	800/999Excellent	77,620 miles	696 vehicles
N/A	N/A	792/999Very good	84,991 miles	685 vehicles
N/A	N/A	773/999Very good	74,357 miles	1,620 vehicles
N/A	N/A	769/999Very good	74,407 miles	1,403 vehicles

How reliable is the BMW 330?

Based on 1,334 MOT tests from 208 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore.

Vehicles

208

MOT tests

1,334

Pass rate

88.4%

Median mileage

80,023 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every BMW 330 has the same fault. The median VehicleScore in this sample is 833 out of 999.

Common BMW 330 MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 281 advisory comments and 58 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE REAR TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 40 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: REAR BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 26 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Steering rack issues

VehicleScore MOT data includes 10 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record play, a leak, or a damaged gaiter on the steering rack.

What to inspect

Check for play at the steering wheel and look for split rack gaiters.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT PLAY IN STEERING RACK INNER JOINT(S)

Shock absorber issues

VehicleScore MOT data includes 8 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record shock absorbers or dampers that were leaking, misting, or insecure. A light misting of oil on a damper is not an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS HAS A SERIOUS FLUID LEAK (5.3.2 (B))

Parking brake faults

VehicleScore MOT data includes 3 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a parking brake that did not hold well enough or had a component defect.

What to inspect

Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Example MOT wording: PARKING BRAKE EFFICIENCY LESS THAN 50% OF THE REQUIRED VALUE (1.4.2 (A) (II))

BMW 330 MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2020	32	151	86.8%	Tyre wear, Ball joint wear
2019	59	295	88.8%	Tyre wear, Parking brake faults
2018	30	200	87.5%	Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2017	66	510	90%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2016	8	68	91.2%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear

What to check when buying a used BMW 330

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Steering rack issues. Check for play at the steering wheel and look for split rack gaiters.
Shock absorber issues. Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.
Parking brake faults. Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Buying a BMW 330?

Common problems tell you what can affect BMW 330s generally. VehicleScore can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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