BMW

BMW M3 build years & generations

Coverage 2001-present5 named generationsSaloonPETROL

The BMW M3 spans several build years and named generations (2001-present). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest BMW M3 generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 2001-2004
Generation
E46
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2006
Generation
E46
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted together with E46 and E90/E92/E93 cars built in the same years.
Built 2007-2008
Generation
E90/E92/E93
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted together with E46 and E90/E92/E93 cars built in the same years.
Built 2009
Generation
E90/E92/E93
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with E90/E92/E93 and E90 LCI cars built in the same years.
Built 2010-2012
Generation
E90 LCI
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with E90/E92/E93 and E90 LCI cars built in the same years.
Built 2013
Generation
E90 LCI
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with E90 LCI and F80 cars built in the same years.
Built 2014-2016
Generation
F80
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with E90 LCI and F80 cars built in the same years.
Built 2017-2018
Generation
F80
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2021+
Generation
G80/G81
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2001-2004	E46	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005-2006	E46	2005-2008	Counted together with E46 and E90/E92/E93 cars built in the same years.
2007-2008	E90/E92/E93	2005-2008	Counted together with E46 and E90/E92/E93 cars built in the same years.
2009	E90/E92/E93	2009-2012	Counted together with E90/E92/E93 and E90 LCI cars built in the same years.
2010-2012	E90 LCI	2009-2012	Counted together with E90/E92/E93 and E90 LCI cars built in the same years.
2013	E90 LCI	2013-2016	Counted together with E90 LCI and F80 cars built in the same years.
2014-2016	F80	2013-2016	Counted together with E90 LCI and F80 cars built in the same years.
2017-2018	F80	2017-2020	Counted with this generation only.
2021+	G80/G81	2021 onwards	Counted with every car built from 2021.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of BMW M3 build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

2021 onwards

G80/G81 only

All G80/G81 cars built from 2021. Newer cars join this group until there is enough MOT history to split it.

Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)

4.7%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)

Ages with data

3 to 4 years old

MOT tests counted

1,341

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

3 years

8957.0%

4 years

4464.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 3 years old.

Built

2017-2020

F80 only

These build years are all F80, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

9.8%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)

Ages with data

6 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

2,003

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

6 years

33510.4%

7 years

1,1399.8%

8 years

52910.0%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 6 years old.

Built

2013-2016

A mix of E90 LCI and F80

These build years include both E90 LCI and F80 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

10.4%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

2,151

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

8 years

37110.0%

9 years

7749.3%

10 years

4138.2%

11 years

3427.0%

12 years

25110.4%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 12 years old.

Built

2009-2012

A mix of E90/E92/E93 and E90 LCI

These build years include both E90/E92/E93 and E90 LCI cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

11.0%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

2,808

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

12 years

26312.6%

13 years

7239.3%

14 years

7119.8%

15 years

75510.2%

16 years

35611.0%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 12 years old.

Built

2005-2008

A mix of E46 and E90/E92/E93

These build years include both E46 and E90/E92/E93 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

13.1%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

3,133

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

16 years

54611.9%

17 years

98113.9%

18 years

27112.2%

19 years

78612.3%

20 years

54913.1%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 17 years old.

Built

Before 2005

E46 only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the E46.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

16.2%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

6,688

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

20 years

63613.2%

21 years

1,80814.4%

22 years

1,88215.1%

23 years

86317.6%

24 years

13715.3%

25+ years

1,36216.2%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 23 years old.