BMW 118i — MOT pass rate & failures
375,009 MOT tests on the BMW 118i (1988–2025) give an 88.5% pass rate. That is 4.5 percentage points better than the 16.0% fail rate across all BMW 1 Series versions, so the 118i is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 11,357 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.1% once past 150k — 3.9× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 106 | 83.0% | 17.0% |
| 2005 | 3,125 | 77.5% | 22.5% |
| 2006 | 5,157 | 77.9% | 22.1% |
| 2007 | 6,926 | 78.6% | 21.4% |
| 2008 | 9,682 | 79.3% | 20.7% |
| 2009 | 9,538 | 80.9% | 19.1% |
| 2010 | 10,171 | 81.8% | 18.2% |
| 2011 | 7,428 | 82.8% | 17.2% |
| 2012 | 5,876 | 83.1% | 16.9% |
| 2013 | 4,232 | 85.4% | 14.6% |
| 2014 | 3,868 | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| 2015 | 34,403 | 87.8% | 12.2% |
| 2016 | 46,895 | 88.3% | 11.7% |
| 2017 | 51,120 | 89.4% | 10.6% |
| 2018 | 48,196 | 89.3% | 10.7% |
| 2019 | 38,080 | 90.5% | 9.6% |
| 2020 | 53,043 | 91.7% | 8.3% |
| 2021 | 25,480 | 92.9% | 7.1% |
| 2022 | 10,746 | 93.3% | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 837 | 96.1% | 3.9% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 21,047 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 17,187 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 8,884 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 8,564 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 5,738 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 4,913 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 1,790 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 1,311 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 11,357 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 10,534 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 6,746 |
| 4 | Washers | 6,077 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 3,990 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 3,522 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.1% | 86,485 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.9% | 55,987 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.9% | 21,979 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 17,303 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 12,574 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 10,897 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 121,118 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 155,370 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 65,590 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 24,346 | 20.7% |
| 120-150k | 6,861 | 24.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,697 | 26.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 51,324 | 11.7% |
| 2022 | 60,575 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 77,875 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 87,940 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 97,295 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a BMW 118i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (5.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (4.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How reliable is the BMW 118i at MOT time?
88.5% of the 375,009 BMW 118i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.5% fail rate, better than the 16.0% average across all 1 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 118i?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.6%).
Does the 118i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 26.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 375,009 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.