2021 BMW 218I M Sport Auto MOT pass rate: 90.0% (8,553 tests)
Is the 2021 218I M Sport Auto getting worse?
Pass rate of 2021-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 89.2% -1.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 90.7% +0.5 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 2021 218I M Sport Auto
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 666 | 54.7% |
| 2 | Brakes | 129 | 10.6% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 116 | 9.5% |
| 4 | Visibility | 80 | 6.6% |
| 5 | Identification of the vehicle | 50 | 4.1% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 39 | 3.2% |
All 218I M Sport Auto years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2,000 | 89.4% | +1.0 pts | 34,602 |
| 2020 | 5,793 | 89.6% | -0.4 pts | 28,325 |
| 2021 (this page) | 8,553 | 90.0% | -0.4 pts | 27,244 |
| 2022 | 2,818 | 90.2% | -1.0 pts | 24,770 |
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FAQs
Is a 2021 BMW 218I M Sport Auto reliable?
2021-registered examples passed 90.0% of their MOT tests (8,553 tests, 2023–2025), -0.4 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 5 years old with a median 27,244 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2021 218I M Sport Auto?
The median tested example shows 27,244 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.