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

The BMW 218i Sport Auto passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 12.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,149 individual BMW 218i Sport Auto tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 89.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 11 in every 100 BMW 218i 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 Sport Auto tested had covered 30,827 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. The BMW 218i Sport Auto sits 12.7 points above the national average, ranked 800 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 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 Sport Autos at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 218i Sport Auto

1. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.5% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.7% of tests
3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 0.9% of tests
4. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.9% of tests
5. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.8% of tests (2.54x the national rate for this defect)
6. Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, 0.7% of tests (3.5x the national rate for this defect)
7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.6% of tests
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.5% of tests
9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.4% of tests
10. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.3% of tests (1.89x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,148 DVSA-tracked BMW 218i Sport Auto tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 6.57% of these flagged BMW 218i 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 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 Sport Auto before it actually fails on it.

1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 2.7% of tests (2.53x the national rate for this advisory)
2. A tyre seriously damaged, 18.3% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 19.7% of tests, also fails
4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 5% of tests, also fails
5. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.5% of tests
6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 1.3% of tests
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.9% of tests, also fails
8. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.3% of tests
9. Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended, 0.3% of tests (2.31x the national rate for this advisory)
10. An engine mounting/bracket severely damaged or deteriorated resulting in excessive movement, 0.2% of tests (2.79x the national rate for this advisory)

From 1,148 DVSA-tracked BMW 218i Sport Auto tests, 2024.

BMW 218i Sport 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 Sport Auto year:

• 2019 BMW 218i Sport Auto - 90.7% first-time pass, 248 tests
• 2021 BMW 218i Sport Auto - 89.1% first-time pass, 599 tests

Other BMW models

• BMW 3 Series - 76.8%
• BMW 118 - 81.9%
• BMW 116 - 78.6%
• BMW X1 - 85.2%
• BMW X3 - 82.3%
• BMW X5 - 81.2%
• BMW 1 Series - 81.6%
• BMW 520 - 80.2%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Audi Q7 Sln Blk Ed 50tdi Mhev Qto A - 89.4%
• BMW M340i Xdrive Mhev Auto - 89.4%
• SEAT Mii Ev - 89.4%
• Fiat 500 Pop Mhev - 89.4%
• Peugeot 208 Active Premium Puretech Ss - 89.4%
• BMW X1 Xdrive25e Xline Auto - 89.4%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

Run a site about the BMW 218i Sport Auto? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-218i-sport-auto"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/bmw-218i-sport-auto.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="BMW 218i Sport Auto MOT Pass Rate: 89.4% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

Run a garage or parts site? Embed the BMW 218i Sport Auto's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-218i-sport-auto"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/bmw-218i-sport-auto.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="BMW 218i Sport Auto most common MOT failure: A tyre seriously damaged (4.5% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate