BMW 518 MOT pass rate: 82.2% (2,173 tests, 2025)

The BMW 518 passed 82.2% of its 2,173 MOT tests in 2025 — 4.7 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 11 years old with 124,851 miles on the clock.

82.2%Pass rate (2025)

2,173MOT tests analysed

124,851 miMedian mileage at test

11 yrsMedian age at test

How the 518 compares

BMW 518

82.2%

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 518

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the 518:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Tyres	195	28.0%
2	Suspension	169	24.2%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	103	14.8%
4	Brakes	95	13.6%
5	Visibility	79	11.3%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	56	8.0%

Pre-MOT checklist for 518 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

518 pass rate by registration year

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2014	2,673	83.7%	+7.8 pts	119,612
2015	1,694	85.4%	+6.7 pts	115,349

Check a specific 518 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 518?

In 2025, 82.2% of 2,173 first MOT tests on the BMW 518 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the 518 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is tyres (28.0% of its recorded defects), followed by suspension.

Is the BMW 518 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 82.2% it performs above the national average at a median age of 11 years and 124,851 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.