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

The BMW 218i M Sport Auto passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 13 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 7,545 individual BMW 218i M Sport Auto tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate89.7%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+13 points
Tests analysed7,545
Average mileage at test28,718 miles
Average year of manufacture2021
Reliability rank748 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 89.7% first-time pass rate means roughly 10 in every 100 BMW 218i M Sport Autos 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 Auto tested had covered 28,718 miles and was built around 2021.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 218i M Sport Auto sits 13 points above the national average, ranked 748 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 218i M Sport Auto 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 218i M Sport Autos at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 218i M Sport Auto

  1. An engine mounting/bracket severely damaged or deteriorated resulting in excessive movement, 0.2% of tests (6.44x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, 0.7% of tests (3.33x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.5% of tests (2.8x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 5.1% of tests (1.81x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended, 0.2% of tests (1.53x the national rate for this defect)
  6. A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber, 0.3% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
  7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.5% of tests
  8. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.1% of tests
  9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.6% of tests
  10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.6% of tests

From 7,534 DVSA-tracked BMW 218i M Sport Auto tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 8.43% of these flagged BMW 218i M Sport Auto defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 218i M Sport Auto

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 218i M Sport Auto before it actually fails on it.

  1. An engine mounting/bracket severely damaged or deteriorated resulting in excessive movement, 0.2% of tests (3.19x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 19.6% of tests, also fails
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 16.5% of tests, also fails
  4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 5.6% of tests, also fails
  5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 1.8% of tests
  6. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.2% of tests
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1% of tests
  8. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.7% of tests
  9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.3% of tests
  10. A seat belt webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened, 0.2% of tests

From 7,534 DVSA-tracked BMW 218i M Sport Auto tests, 2024.

BMW 218i M Sport Auto pass rate by model year

From its 2019 to its 2021 model year, the BMW 218i M Sport Auto's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.5 points, from 90.9% to 89.4%, an unusual pattern where even its newest years fail more than its oldest. First-time pass rate for each BMW 218i M Sport Auto year:

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BMW 218i M Sport Auto MOT pass rate badge: 89.7%

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BMW 218i M Sport Auto most common MOT failure: An engine mounting/bracket severely damaged or deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (0.2% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate