BMW 218i Se: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 218i Se passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 12.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 2,020 individual BMW 218i Se tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate88.9%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+12.2 points
Tests analysed2,020
Average mileage at test38,318 miles
Average year of manufacture2019
Reliability rank874 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 88.9% first-time pass rate means roughly 11 in every 100 BMW 218i Ses 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 Se tested had covered 38,318 miles and was built around 2019.

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 Se 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 Se 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 Ses actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 218i Se

  1. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.1% of tests
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.2% of tests
  3. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.1% of tests
  4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.8% of tests
  5. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.8% of tests
  6. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.7% of tests
  7. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.6% of tests
  8. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 0.5% of tests
  9. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.4% of tests
  10. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.4% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this defect)

From 2,911 DVSA-tracked BMW 218i Se tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.96% of these flagged BMW 218i Se defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW 218i Se 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 Se 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 Se MOT pass rate badge: 88.9%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate