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

First-time pass rate84.7%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+8 points
Tests analysed561
Average mileage at test56,512 miles
Average year of manufacture2015
Reliability rank1,264 of 2,005 models

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. On a BMW 228 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 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 what damaged BMW 228s actually sold for 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, 1.6% of tests (2.34x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.1% of tests (2.03x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1% of tests
  4. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.9% of tests
  5. Headlamp levelling device inoperative, 0.8% of tests (7.96x the national rate for this defect)
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.7% of tests
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.6% of tests
  8. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 0.5% of tests
  9. A headlamp cleaning device inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID), 0.5% of tests (22.48x the national rate for this defect)
  10. 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, 0.5% of tests (3.24x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,102 DVSA-tracked BMW 228 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 7.79% of these flagged BMW 228 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate