BMW 216d — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 216d recorded a 87.3% MOT pass rate across 30,725 tests in this dataset (model years 2014–2021), with lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension its most common failure areas. Its 12.7% fail rate is higher than the 10.8% average across all BMW 2 Series versions.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 58 | 82.8% | 17.2% |
| 2015 | 5,856 | 85.9% | 14.1% |
| 2016 | 10,021 | 86.3% | 13.8% |
| 2017 | 8,289 | 88.1% | 11.9% |
| 2018 | 3,761 | 89.0% | 11.0% |
| 2019 | 1,219 | 91.5% | 8.5% |
| 2020 | 1,203 | 88.5% | 11.5% |
| 2021 | 318 | 88.4% | 11.6% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 1,817 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 1,624 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.7% | 842 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 829 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 659 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 631 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 170 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 88 |
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 | 1,336 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 784 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 713 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 597 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 594 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 527 |
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 | 25.8% | 7,937 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 4,782 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.3% | 2,841 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.8% | 2,395 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 814 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 327 |
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 | 3,841 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 12,045 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 8,948 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,983 | 17.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,343 | 17.6% |
| 150k+ | 563 | 16.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,444 | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 5,925 | 10.9% |
| 2023 | 6,353 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 6,518 | 14.0% |
| 2025 | 6,485 | 15.3% |
What to check before buying a BMW 216d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (5.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Suspension (2.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 216d at MOT time?
87.3% of the 30,725 BMW 216d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate, worse than the 10.8% average across all 2 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 216d?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 216d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 16.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,725 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-06. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.