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What to check: BMW X3

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Ranked across all years of the BMW X3, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Steering playRuns high on this modelWith the engine running and the car parked, waggle the wheel lightly about the straight-ahead. The wheels should respond almost at once. A dead zone before anything happens means wear in the rack or the track rod ends.Recorded on 4.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.1%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 2.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.3%

Bushes and ball jointsDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 3.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 1.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

DampersLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 2.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

Warning lights on ignitionTurn the ignition on without starting the engine and watch the dash. Every warning light should appear, then go out once it is running. Be more suspicious of a light that never comes on at all than of one that stays on; warning bulbs have been known to vanish before a sale.Recorded on 0.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

Lights and horn walkroundWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 0.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.8%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 25.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 9.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 8.7%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Start the engine from cold and listen for a rattle from the front of the engine before you drive off.A rattle that fades after a few seconds points to a worn timing chain tensioner, most common on pre-2012 20d/18d diesels.

Ask when the timing chain tensioner was last checked or replaced, and get it in writing.No answer, or a vague one, means budgeting for a possible engine-out repair.

Try every window switch and the tailgate release, and watch the dashboard for warning lights on start-up.Slow or dead windows and repeat warning lights point to the electrical faults this generation is known for.

Accelerate hard past 3,000rpm on the test drive.A flat spot or hesitation here suggests a clogging EGR valve or DPF, especially on cars used mostly for short trips.

On an automatic, pull away gently and let it complete a full cycle of gearchanges in traffic.Jerky or delayed changes, or the car briefly dropping out of gear at a standstill, means a gearbox check before you buy.

On a manual, feel for clutch judder pulling away and ask about dual-mass flywheel history.Judder or a heavy, inconsistent pedal points to a flywheel and clutch replacement due, which runs to £1,500 or more.

Check the MOT history for repeat advisories on steering, brakes or suspension.Recurring advisories on the same component back up owner reports of early-wearing steering racks and brakes.

Full BMW X3 reliability report