BMW 118: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 118 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 5.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 149,475 individual BMW 118 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate81.9%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+5.2 points
Tests analysed149,475
Average mileage at test70,597 miles
Average year of manufacture2015
Reliability rank1,381 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 81.9% first-time pass rate means roughly 18 in every 100 BMW 118s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW 118 tested had covered 70,597 miles and was built around 2015.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 118 sits 5.2 points above the national average, ranked 1,381 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW 118 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged BMW 118s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 118

  1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.6% of tests (2.7x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.7% of tests (2.3x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.5% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.8% of tests (1.2x the national rate for this defect)
  5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 2.1% of tests
  6. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.1% of tests
  7. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.9% of tests
  8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.7% of tests
  9. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.5% of tests
  10. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1% of tests

From 149,311 DVSA-tracked BMW 118 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 6.73% of these flagged BMW 118 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 118

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a BMW 118 before it actually fails on it.

  1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 4.5% of tests (8.06x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 5.8% of tests (1.49x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.5% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this advisory)
  4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 11.6% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  5. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.7% of tests (1.17x the national rate for this advisory)
  6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 30.2% of tests, also fails
  7. A tyre seriously damaged, 11.9% of tests, also fails
  8. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 9.6% of tests
  9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.6% of tests, also fails
  10. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 4.3% of tests

From 149,311 DVSA-tracked BMW 118 tests, 2024.

BMW 118 pass rate by model year

From its 2005 to its 2022 model year, the BMW 118's first-time pass rate has risen 27.3 points, from 68.8% to 96.1%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 118 year:

BMW 118 by fuel type

The BMW 118's two most-tested fuel types split by 10.6 points: petrol passes first time 87.3% of the time (79,582 tests) against 76.7% for diesel (69,056 tests).

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 118 MOT pass rate badge: 81.9%

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BMW 118 most common MOT failure: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (2.6% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-118"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/bmw-118.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="BMW 118 most common MOT failure: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (2.6% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate