BMW 218i M Sport: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 218i M Sport passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 11.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 3,658 individual BMW 218i M Sport tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate88.3%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+11.6 points
Tests analysed3,658
Average mileage at test29,702 miles
Average year of manufacture2020
Reliability rank948 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 88.3% first-time pass rate means roughly 12 in every 100 BMW 218i M Sports 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 218i M Sport tested had covered 29,702 miles and was built around 2020.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a BMW 218i M Sport bought as a 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 218i M Sport 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 what damaged BMW 218i M Sports actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 218i M Sport

  1. Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, 0.3% of tests (2.18x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.8% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Audible warning inoperative, 0.3% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.2% of tests
  5. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 0.8% of tests
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.4% of tests
  7. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.2% of tests
  8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.2% of tests
  9. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.2% of tests
  10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.2% of tests

From 6,975 DVSA-tracked BMW 218i M Sport tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 7.89% of these flagged BMW 218i M Sport defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW 218i M Sport pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each BMW 218i M Sport year:

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 218i M Sport MOT pass rate badge: 88.3%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate