Known APK problem

BMW 3-serie F31: brakes

On the BMW 3-serie F31 the APK inspector finds brakes problems 80% more often than on cars of the same age: at 11–12 years 5.0%, against about 2.8% nationally.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Worn or rusted brake discs and pads, or uneven braking.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Ask the seller: When were the brake discs and pads last replaced?

By age

Share of inspected BMW 3-serie F31s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	3-serie F31	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
7 – 8 years	A	0.7%	0.4 – 1.1%	1.2%	0.6×	2,266
7 – 8 years	B	1.3%	0.9 – 1.9%	1.4%	0.9×	2,266
7 – 8 years	C	4.1%	3.4 – 5.0%	2.6%	1.6×	2,266
9 – 10 years	A	0.9%	0.7 – 1.3%	1.8%	0.5×	3,097
9 – 10 years	B	0.8%	0.6 – 1.2%	1.6%	0.5×	3,097
9 – 10 years	C	4.0%	3.4 – 4.8%	2.9%	1.4×	3,097
11 – 12 years	A	0.9%	0.6 – 1.3%	3.0%	0.3×	3,135
11 – 12 years	B	1.1%	0.8 – 1.6%	1.6%	0.7×	3,135
11 – 12 years	C	5.0%	4.3 – 5.8%	2.8%	1.8×	3,135
13 – 15 years	A	1.2%	0.9 – 1.6%	4.0%	0.3×	3,508
13 – 15 years	B	1.1%	0.8 – 1.5%	2.2%	0.5×	3,508
13 – 15 years	C	4.3%	3.7 – 5.0%	2.9%	1.5×	3,508

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 11–12 years

Model	Brakes	Vs. national
BMW 3-serie F31	5.0%	1.8×
Opel Insignia A	2.5%	0.9×
Toyota Avensis III	2.6%	0.9×
Audi A4 (B8)	1.2%	0.4×
Audi A6 (C7)	0.7%	0.3×
Volvo V60 I / S60 II	1.7%	0.6×

Looking at a BMW 3-serie F31? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other BMW 3-serie F31s of the same age.

All weak spots of the BMW 3-serie F31 · Brakes: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the BMW 3-serie F31 often have brakes problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 11–12 years the inspector found a brakes defect on 5.0% of inspected BMW 3-serie F31s, against about 2.8% of all cars of the same age (1.8×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the brakes on a used BMW 3-serie F31?

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know