BMW 228: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 228 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 561 individual BMW 228 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 84.7% first-time pass rate means roughly 15 in every 100 BMW 228s 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 228 tested had covered 56,512 miles and was built around 2015.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 228 sits 8 points above the national average, ranked 1,264 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 228 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 228s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 228

1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.9% of tests (3x the national rate for this defect)
2. A tyre seriously damaged, 5.2% of tests (1.85x the national rate for this defect)
3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.8% of tests
4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.4% of tests
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.2% of tests
6. Headlamp levelling device inoperative, 1.2% of tests (9.18x the national rate for this defect)
7. 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, 0.9% of tests (4.6x the national rate for this defect)
8. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 0.9% of tests
9. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.9% of tests (15.15x the national rate for this defect)
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.9% of tests

From 561 DVSA-tracked BMW 228 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 9.48% of these flagged BMW 228 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 228

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 228 before it actually fails on it.

1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 3.4% of tests (3.17x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 26.6% of tests, also fails
3. A tyre seriously damaged, 8.2% of tests, also fails
4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 7.8% of tests, also fails
5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 6.1% of tests
6. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4.1% of tests, also fails
7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 3.2% of tests
8. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.9% of tests
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.5% of tests, also fails
10. Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted, 0.9% of tests (14.57x the national rate for this advisory)

From 561 DVSA-tracked BMW 228 tests, 2024.

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

• Land Rover Range Rover Evoque R-Dyn D 4x2 - 84.7%
• Tesla Model S Long Range Awd - 84.7%
• Ford Focus St Ecoblue - 84.7%
• Ford Tourneo Custom - 84.6%
• Ford Tourneo Custom 320 Tnium Eblue - 84.6%
• BMW X7 - 84.6%

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?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate