2011 BMW 3 Series 2.0L Petrol · EF61 TZS

The most recent MOT was on 2025-11-10 — just over 7 months ago — and it passed at 150,078 miles, though with a noted defect: rear brake discs are worn, pitted, or scored (not yet seriously weakened). That same day, an earlier test at 150,068 miles failed — only 10 miles earlier — due to rear brake pads below 1.5 mm, the same rear disc wear, and a non-working nearside stop lamp. This shows the brakes were already critically worn at that point and likely contributed directly to the failure. Brake issues have recurred consistently: rear pads wearing thin appeared in 2023, worsened to “wearing thin both sides” in 2024, then failed outright in late 2025. Rear discs have been flagged as worn, pitted, or scored in all three of the last MOTs — 2023, 2024, and 2025 — indicating long-standing, unaddressed degradation. The trend is clearly worsening: brake pad thickness has deteriorated to failure level, and disc condition remains unchanged despite repeated warnings. No evidence suggests repairs were carried out between the 2024 and 2025 tests — the same defects reappear, often with greater severity. At 150,078 miles and 15 years old, annual average is ~10,005 miles — broadly typical for the age. This neither strongly suggests hard use nor prolonged under-use; it’s consistent with regular ownership. However, the persistent brake wear and oil leak (noted in 2024) hint at possible deferred maintenance rather than exceptional driving conditions.