2017 BMW 218 MOT pass rate: 86.7% (29,209 tests)
Is the 2017 218 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2017-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 88.1% +2.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 86.5% +2.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 85.5% +3.1 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 2017 218
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2,468 | 37.4% |
| 2 | Brakes | 1,034 | 15.7% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,007 | 15.3% |
| 4 | Suspension | 798 | 12.1% |
| 5 | Visibility | 501 | 7.6% |
| 6 | Road Wheels | 271 | 4.1% |
All 218 years compared
| 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 (this page) | 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 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: BMW 218 years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2017 BMW 218 reliable?
2017-registered examples passed 86.7% of their MOT tests (29,209 tests, 2023–2025), +2.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 9 years old with a median 49,788 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2017 218?
The median tested example shows 49,788 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.
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.