BMW 218 MOT pass rate: 84.6% (46,269 tests, 2025)

The BMW 218 passed 84.6% of its 46,269 MOT tests in 2025 — 7.1 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 8 years old with 58,684 miles on the clock.

84.6%Pass rate (2025)

46,269MOT tests analysed

58,684 miMedian mileage at test

8 yrsMedian age at test

How the 218 compares

BMW 218

84.6%

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 218

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the 218:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Tyres	3,823	30.5%
2	Suspension	2,365	18.9%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2,097	16.7%
4	Brakes	1,820	14.5%
5	Visibility	1,002	8.0%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	686	5.5%

Pre-MOT checklist for 218 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
Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
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

218 pass rate by registration year

Strongest age-adjusted years: 2014, 2015. Full ranking and method: BMW 218 years to avoid.

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2014	6,842	80.7%	+4.9 pts	75,831
2015	26,049	84.2%	+5.5 pts	65,369
2016	34,782	84.8%	+3.4 pts	58,552
2017	29,209	86.7%	+2.7 pts	49,788
2018	23,719	87.7%	+1.4 pts	41,757
2019	10,977	89.0%	+0.6 pts	31,318
2020	6,291	90.2%	+0.2 pts	24,764

Check a specific 218 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 11883.0% pass rate · 151,434 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

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 218?

In 2025, 84.6% of 46,269 first MOT tests on the BMW 218 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the 218 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is tyres (30.5% of its recorded defects), followed by suspension.

Is the BMW 218 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 84.6% it performs above the national average at a median age of 8 years and 58,684 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.