2015 BMW 518 MOT pass rate: 85.4% (1,694 tests)
Is the 2015 518 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2015-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 85.3% +4.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 85.9% +7.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 85.0% +8.0 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 2015 518
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 175 | 38.7% |
| 2 | Suspension | 65 | 14.4% |
| 3 | Brakes | 55 | 12.2% |
| 4 | Visibility | 48 | 10.6% |
| 5 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 40 | 8.8% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 26 | 5.8% |
All 518 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2,673 | 83.7% | +7.8 pts | 119,612 |
| 2015 (this page) | 1,694 | 85.4% | +6.7 pts | 115,349 |
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FAQs
Is a 2015 BMW 518 reliable?
2015-registered examples passed 85.4% of their MOT tests (1,694 tests, 2023–2025), +6.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 11 years old with a median 115,349 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2015 518?
The median tested example shows 115,349 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.