BMW 218i Se Auto: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 218i Se Auto passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 13.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,143 individual BMW 218i Se Auto tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate90.5%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+13.8 points
Tests analysed1,143
Average mileage at test45,284 miles
Average year of manufacture2019
Reliability rank623 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 90.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 10 in every 100 BMW 218i Se 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 Se Auto tested had covered 45,284 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 Auto 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 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 what damaged BMW 218i Se Autos actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 218i Se Auto

  1. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.3% of tests
  2. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.8% of tests
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 0.7% of tests
  4. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.6% of tests
  5. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.6% of tests
  6. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.4% of tests
  7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.4% of tests
  8. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.4% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)
  9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.4% of tests
  10. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.4% of tests

From 1,707 DVSA-tracked BMW 218i Se Auto tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.24% of these flagged BMW 218i Se Auto defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW 218i Se Auto 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 Auto year:

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Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 218i Se Auto MOT pass rate badge: 90.5%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate