BMW 118 MOT pass rate: 83.0% (151,434 tests, 2025)

The BMW 118 passed 83.0% of its 151,434 MOT tests in 2025 — 5.5 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 8 years old with 62,626 miles on the clock.

83.0%Pass rate (2025)

151,434MOT tests analysed

62,626 miMedian mileage at test

8 yrsMedian age at test

How the 118 compares

BMW 118

83.0%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

BMW average (all models)

83.0%

What fails most on the BMW 118

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the 118:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Tyres	13,488	25.1%
2	Brakes	9,927	18.5%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	9,867	18.4%
4	Suspension	9,847	18.3%
5	Visibility	4,508	8.4%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	2,987	5.6%

Pre-MOT checklist for 118 owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

118 pass rate by registration year

Strongest age-adjusted years: 2007, 2008. Full ranking and method: BMW 118 years to avoid.

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2005	4,967	69.1%	+4.7 pts	136,817
2006	8,017	69.6%	+5.2 pts	133,286
2007	10,017	71.4%	+6.3 pts	121,149
2008	16,479	71.1%	+6.0 pts	120,658
2009	22,304	71.4%	+5.0 pts	115,830
2010	29,919	72.8%	+5.4 pts	110,389
2011	27,312	73.9%	+4.7 pts	104,840
2012	17,062	73.1%	+1.8 pts	98,444
2013	16,396	78.0%	+4.7 pts	89,298
2014	13,049	80.6%	+4.7 pts	88,086
2015	32,484	84.7%	+5.9 pts	69,307
2016	40,752	85.1%	+3.8 pts	60,612
2017	43,581	86.3%	+2.2 pts	52,664
2018	32,721	86.6%	+0.3 pts	43,889
2019	30,483	88.8%	+0.4 pts	35,254
2020	53,489	90.7%	+0.8 pts	29,172
2021	25,184	92.1%	+1.7 pts	27,306
2022	9,896	92.6%	+1.4 pts	23,157

Check a specific 118 before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other BMW models

3 Series77.7% pass rate · 346,191 tests X185.0% pass rate · 105,826 tests 11678.5% pass rate · 100,371 tests X383.1% pass rate · 88,755 tests 1 Series81.7% pass rate · 77,207 tests X582.4% pass rate · 76,168 tests 5 Series85.7% pass rate · 71,923 tests 52081.0% pass rate · 71,728 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 118?

In 2025, 83.0% of 151,434 first MOT tests on the BMW 118 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the 118 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is tyres (25.1% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the BMW 118 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 83.0% it performs above the national average at a median age of 8 years and 62,626 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.