BMW 220: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 220 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 7.5 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 15,058 individual BMW 220 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate84.2%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+7.5 points
Tests analysed15,058
Average mileage at test63,301 miles
Average year of manufacture2016
Reliability rank1,289 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 84.2% first-time pass rate means roughly 16 in every 100 BMW 220s 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 220 tested had covered 63,301 miles and was built around 2016.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 220 sits 7.5 points above the national average, ranked 1,289 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 220 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 220s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 220

  1. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.7% of tests (12.09x the national rate for this defect)
  2. 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, 0.6% of tests (2.88x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.2% of tests (2.34x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.7% of tests (2.24x the national rate for this defect)
  5. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.7% of tests (1.69x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.4% of tests
  7. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.7% of tests
  8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.4% of tests
  9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.3% of tests
  10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.3% of tests

From 15,039 DVSA-tracked BMW 220 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 8.87% of these flagged BMW 220 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 220

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 220 before it actually fails on it.

  1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.8% of tests (1.68x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 26.5% of tests, also fails
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 10.5% of tests, also fails
  4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 9.9% of tests, also fails
  5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 7.7% of tests
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.4% of tests, also fails
  7. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.6% of tests, also fails
  8. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.4% of tests
  9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 1.7% of tests
  10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 1.1% of tests

From 15,039 DVSA-tracked BMW 220 tests, 2024.

BMW 220 pass rate by model year

From its 2014 to its 2018 model year, the BMW 220's first-time pass rate has risen 9.2 points, from 79.1% to 88.3%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 220 year:

BMW 220 by fuel type

The BMW 220's two most-tested fuel types split by 3.3 points: diesel passes first time 83.7% of the time (11,141 tests) against 87% for petrol (3,857 tests).

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 220 MOT pass rate badge: 84.2%

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BMW 220 most common MOT failure: Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (0.7% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate