Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 122,669 currently licensed in the UK, the BMW X3 is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the X3 5 stars in 2017, with 93% adult occupant and 79% child protection scores.
It has a 80.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, oil leaks.
Annual running costs are estimated at £3,811 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £318/month or 48p/mile.
Theft risk is rated moderate at 10.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2017
MOT Pass Rate
80.5%
85,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£318
est. annual total
New From
£55,000
Euro NCAP tested the X3 in 2017 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
93%
Child Occupant
79%
Pedestrian
80%
Safety Assist
73%
There are 56 known DVSA recalls affecting the BMW X3. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/327
Affected vehicles may be fitted with a drivers airbag which may deploy with too much explosive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released into the cabin. It has the potential to fatally or seriously injure vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2006-01-08 to 2010-08-18
R/2025/349
Affected vehicles are already included in Safety Recalls within the markets they have previously resided in. The vehicles may be fitted with a driver and/or passenger airbag/s which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury which could prove fatal to people in the vicinity.
Build dates: 2003-07-29 to 2010-07-01
R/2025/349
Affected vehicles are already included in Safety Recalls within the markets they have previously resided in. The vehicles may be fitted with a driver and/or passenger airbag/s which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury which could prove fatal to people in the vicinity.
Build dates: 2010-05-24 to 2017-08-18
R/2025/535
A quality check has revealed a potential issue with the steering gear software program which monitors the function of two sensors and compares the signals. In the vehicles concerned due to an error in the software the failure of a sensor may not always be detected correctly. When a failure has been detected correctly the driver is notified of it by a Check Control message on the Central Display and minimal change to steering feel.
Build dates: 2024-08-26 to 2025-10-09
R/2025/405
For affected vehicles there is a concern involving water ingress and corrosion to the starter motor for where a short circuit cannot be ruled out. It is strongly recommended to park the vehicle outdoors and not in the immediate vicinity of buildings until the repair has been carried out.
Build dates: 2017-07-14 to 2020-11-05
+ 51 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 85,000 MOT tests, the X3 has a first-time pass rate of 80.5% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The X3 is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old BMW X3 are estimated at around £3,811 per year, or £318 per month.
Fuel
£1,139
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£2,222
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The X3 achieves a combined fuel economy of around 46.3 mpg (34.4 mpg urban, 44.8 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| X3 | DIESEL/ELECTRIC | 46.3 mpg | 2.0L |
| X3 | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 39.2 mpg | 2.0L |
| X3 | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 35.3 mpg | 3.0L |
| X3 SERIES E83 | DIESEL | 43.5 mpg | 2.0L |
| X3 SERIES E83 | PETROL | 30.4 mpg | 2.0L |
| X3 SERIES E83 | PETROL | 25.2 mpg | 2.5L |
| X3 SERIES E83 | PETROL | 30.4 mpg | 2.5L |
| X3 SERIES E83 | PETROL | 23.3 mpg | 3.0L |
Starting from £55,000 new, a BMW X3 typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £41,250 | −£13,750 |
| 2 years | 64% | £35,050 | −£19,950 |
| 3 years | 56% | £30,850 | −£24,150 |
| 4 years | 50% | £27,750 | −£27,250 |
| 5 years | 46% | £25,550 | −£29,450 |
| 6 years | 43% | £23,750 | −£31,250 |
| 7 years | 41% | £22,350 | −£32,650 |
| 8 years | 39% | £21,200 | −£33,800 |
| 9 years | 37% | £20,150 | −£34,850 |
| 10 years | 35% | £19,150 | −£35,850 |
The X3 has a theft rate of 10.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 122,669 licensed and 5,471 SORN X3s in the UK (128,140 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The X3 has a 80.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 85,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the X3 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2017. It scored 93% for adult occupant protection, 79% for child occupant protection, 80% for vulnerable road users, and 73% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old X3 are estimated at around £3,811 per year (£318/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 56 known safety recalls affecting the X3. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The X3 has a theft rate of 10.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new X3 starts from around £55,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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