2007 BMW 118 MOT pass rate: 71.4% (10,017 tests)

2007-registered BMW 118s passed 71.4% of 10,017 MOT tests in 2023–2025 — 6.3 points better than all UK cars registered in 2007 (65.1%). This is one of the strongest 118 years in the age-adjusted MOT ranking, although the individual car still matters more.

71.4%Pass rate, 2007 cars

106.3Age-adjusted index (100 = average)

10,017Tests analysed

121,149 miMedian mileage at test

73.9% / 70.4%Petrol vs diesel pass rate

Is the 2007 118 getting worse?

Pass rate of 2007-registered cars across recent test years:

Test year	Pass rate
2023	71.6% +6.5 vs same-age
2024	71.4% +6.5 vs same-age
2025	71.2% +5.8 vs same-age

The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.

What fails on a 2007 118

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Brakes	2,006	24.4%
2	Suspension	1,436	17.5%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	1,363	16.6%
4	Tyres	1,102	13.4%
5	Noise, emissions and leaks	801	9.7%
6	Visibility	604	7.3%

All 118 years compared

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 (this page)	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

Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: BMW 118 years to avoid.

Buying a 2007 118? Two checks first

Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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

FAQs

Is a 2007 BMW 118 reliable?

2007-registered examples passed 71.4% of their MOT tests (10,017 tests, 2023–2025), +6.3 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 19 years old with a median 121,149 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.

What mileage is too high for a 2007 118?

The median tested example shows 121,149 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.

Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2007 118?

In this cohort petrols pass 73.9% of tests against 70.4% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.