BMW 218d — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 218d recorded a 87.9% MOT pass rate across 123,629 tests in this dataset (model years 2014–2023), with tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes its most common failure areas. Its 12.1% 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 | 10,826 | 83.2% | 16.8% |
| 2015 | 28,517 | 86.7% | 13.3% |
| 2016 | 30,940 | 87.7% | 12.3% |
| 2017 | 24,227 | 89.0% | 11.0% |
| 2018 | 17,102 | 89.8% | 10.2% |
| 2019 | 7,429 | 90.1% | 9.9% |
| 2020 | 2,174 | 90.3% | 9.7% |
| 2021 | 1,495 | 89.4% | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 889 | 93.3% | 6.8% |
| 2023 | 30 | 96.7% | 3.3% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 7,333 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 6,032 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 2,922 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.3% | 2,794 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 2,450 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 1,233 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 803 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 388 |
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 | 3,691 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,128 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2,382 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,790 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,478 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,442 |
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 | 23.7% | 29,249 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.8% | 18,333 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.8% | 8,363 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.2% | 7,710 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 3,433 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 2,283 |
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 | 20,696 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 50,950 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 33,992 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 12,985 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 3,786 | 19.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,211 | 17.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,143 | 9.9% |
| 2022 | 24,229 | 11.1% |
| 2023 | 24,930 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 25,648 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 26,679 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a BMW 218d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (4.9% 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 218d at MOT time?
87.9% of the 123,629 BMW 218d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate, worse than the 10.8% average across all 2 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 218d?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.9%).
Does the 218d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 17.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 123,629 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.