2021 BMW 330e: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2021 BMW 330e?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2021 BMW 330e than on all cars registered in 2021.

• Windscreen1.6× usual
  BMW 330e

  2.8% All 2021 cars

  1.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

• Shock absorbers1.7× usual
  BMW 330e

  2.4% All 2021 cars

  1.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.3% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Common 2021 BMW 330e MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2021 BMW 330e MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  30% 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.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  5% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

• Suspension
  5% 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.

• Lights and electrics
  4% 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
  3% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

• Oil and fluid leaks
  1% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Known faults on the 2021 BMW 330e

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 2021 BMW 330e

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

1. Any recent work on the windscreen? (Flagged at MOT 1.6× as often on the 2021 BMW 330e as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2021 BMW 330e as on other cars the same age.)
3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?