BMW 418: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 418 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 993 individual BMW 418 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 82.7% first-time pass rate means roughly 17 in every 100 BMW 418s 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 418 tested had covered 89,592 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 418 sits 6 points above the national average, ranked 1,352 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 418 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 418s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 418

1. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 1.5% of tests (4.91x the national rate for this defect)
2. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.9% of tests (2.02x the national rate for this defect)
3. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.7% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.2% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
5. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 1.5% of tests (1.24x the national rate for this defect)
6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.7% of tests (1.17x the national rate for this defect)
7. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.9% of tests
8. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.7% of tests
9. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.4% of tests
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1% of tests

From 989 DVSA-tracked BMW 418 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 8.27% of these flagged BMW 418 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 418

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 418 before it actually fails on it.

1. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 6.3% of tests (1.97x the national rate for this advisory)
2. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 13.1% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 16.4% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 35.5% of tests (1.33x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. A tyre seriously damaged, 7.3% of tests, also fails
6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 5.2% of tests
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 5% of tests
8. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.2% of tests, also fails
9. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 1.3% of tests (1.55x the national rate for this advisory)
10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 1.1% of tests

From 989 DVSA-tracked BMW 418 tests, 2024.

BMW 418 pass rate by model year

From its 2015 to its 2016 model year, the BMW 418's first-time pass rate has risen 7 points, from 79.7% to 86.7%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 418 year:

• 2015 BMW 418 - 79.7% first-time pass, 418 tests
• 2016 BMW 418 - 86.7% first-time pass, 360 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

• Mercedes-Benz E 220 Amg Lne Ngt Ed Prm + D A - 82.7%
• MINI Cooper Auto - 82.7%
• Land Rover Discovery Sport Hse D Auto - 82.7%
• Toyota Estima - 82.6%
• Volkswagen California - 82.6%
• Lexus Rx450h - 82.6%

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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<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-418"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/bmw-418.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="BMW 418 MOT Pass Rate: 82.7% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

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<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-418"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/bmw-418.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="BMW 418 most common MOT failure: A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud (1.5% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate