BMW 218: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 218 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 8.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 46,918 individual BMW 218 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate85.6%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+8.9 points
Tests analysed46,918
Average mileage at test55,590 miles
Average year of manufacture2017
Reliability rank1,199 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 85.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 14 in every 100 BMW 218s 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 218 tested had covered 55,590 miles and was built around 2017.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 218 sits 8.9 points above the national average, ranked 1,199 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 218 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 218s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 218

  1. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.5% of tests (1.73x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.9% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.6% of tests
  4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.8% of tests
  5. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.3% of tests
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.3% of tests
  7. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.2% of tests
  8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.2% of tests
  9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.9% of tests
  10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.8% of tests

From 46,872 DVSA-tracked BMW 218 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 8.13% of these flagged BMW 218 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 218

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 218 before it actually fails on it.

  1. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 11.5% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.9% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.3% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this advisory)
  4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 27.4% of tests, also fails
  5. A tyre seriously damaged, 12.3% of tests, also fails
  6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 8.2% of tests
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.7% of tests, also fails
  8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 2.3% of tests
  9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.8% of tests, also fails
  10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 1% of tests

From 46,872 DVSA-tracked BMW 218 tests, 2024.

BMW 218 pass rate by model year

From its 2014 to its 2020 model year, the BMW 218's first-time pass rate has risen 8 points, from 81.8% to 89.8%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 218 year:

BMW 218 by fuel type

The BMW 218's two most-tested fuel types split by 1.9 points: petrol passes first time 86.8% of the time (26,075 tests) against 84.9% for diesel (20,656 tests).

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 218 MOT pass rate badge: 85.6%

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BMW 218 most common MOT failure: A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud (0.5% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate