BMW 218i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 218i recorded a 89.8% MOT pass rate across 206,193 tests in this dataset (model years 2014–2024), with tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes its most common failure areas. Its 10.2% fail rate is lower than the 10.8% average across all BMW 2 Series versions.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2,756 | 90.1% | 9.9% |
| 2015 | 21,646 | 87.9% | 12.1% |
| 2016 | 35,388 | 88.0% | 12.0% |
| 2017 | 30,761 | 89.7% | 10.3% |
| 2018 | 38,806 | 90.6% | 9.4% |
| 2019 | 31,956 | 90.6% | 9.4% |
| 2020 | 20,607 | 90.8% | 9.2% |
| 2021 | 18,387 | 90.6% | 9.4% |
| 2022 | 5,504 | 91.6% | 8.4% |
| 2023 | 376 | 96.3% | 3.7% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 11,435 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 7,360 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.8% | 3,618 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 3,410 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 2,203 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 1,477 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 1,068 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 551 |
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 | 4,632 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 4,062 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 3,406 |
| 4 | Washers | 2,519 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,324 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,245 |
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 | 22.3% | 46,066 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 23,502 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 13,038 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 6,500 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 4,384 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 3,133 |
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 | 81,289 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 92,677 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 26,347 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,837 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 859 | 16.8% |
| 150k+ | 172 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,895 | 8.4% |
| 2022 | 34,087 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 41,469 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 49,649 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 55,093 | 11.0% |
What to check before buying a BMW 218i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (5.5% 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 (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.8% 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 218i at MOT time?
89.8% of the 206,193 BMW 218i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.2% fail rate, in line with the 10.8% average across all 2 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 218i?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.6%).
Does the 218i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 18.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 206,193 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.