2018 BMW 220 MOT pass rate: 88.6% (3,609 tests)
Is the 2018 220 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2018-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 90.3% +2.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 88.6% +2.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 87.0% +2.2 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 2018 220
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 285 | 43.1% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 106 | 16.0% |
| 3 | Brakes | 79 | 11.9% |
| 4 | Suspension | 72 | 10.9% |
| 5 | Visibility | 55 | 8.3% |
| 6 | Road Wheels | 28 | 4.2% |
All 220 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 5,044 | 79.1% | +3.3 pts | 77,044 |
| 2015 | 13,908 | 83.9% | +5.2 pts | 65,068 |
| 2016 | 13,500 | 85.3% | +4.0 pts | 60,154 |
| 2017 | 7,223 | 87.0% | +3.0 pts | 51,230 |
| 2018 (this page) | 3,609 | 88.6% | +2.3 pts | 45,203 |
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FAQs
Is a 2018 BMW 220 reliable?
2018-registered examples passed 88.6% of their MOT tests (3,609 tests, 2023–2025), +2.3 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 8 years old with a median 45,203 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2018 220?
The median tested example shows 45,203 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 2018 220?
In this cohort petrols pass 91.0% of tests against 88.0% 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.