2018 BMW 318 MOT pass rate: 87.9% (8,409 tests)
Is the 2018 318 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2018-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 89.5% +1.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 86.8% +0.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 87.5% +2.7 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 318
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 660 | 40.3% |
| 2 | Brakes | 347 | 21.2% |
| 3 | Visibility | 155 | 9.5% |
| 4 | Suspension | 145 | 8.9% |
| 5 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 135 | 8.2% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 105 | 6.4% |
All 318 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2,434 | 84.7% | +3.3 pts | 70,113 |
| 2017 | 8,009 | 85.6% | +1.6 pts | 64,501 |
| 2018 (this page) | 8,409 | 87.9% | +1.6 pts | 52,982 |
| 2019 | 4,625 | 88.3% | -0.1 pts | 47,303 |
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FAQs
Is a 2018 BMW 318 reliable?
2018-registered examples passed 87.9% of their MOT tests (8,409 tests, 2023–2025), +1.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 8 years old with a median 52,982 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2018 318?
The median tested example shows 52,982 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.