BMW 220d — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 220d recorded a 87.8% MOT pass rate across 77,095 tests in this dataset (model years 2013–2023), with tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension its most common failure areas. Its 12.2% 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 | 6,964 | 82.5% | 17.5% |
| 2015 | 19,598 | 86.3% | 13.7% |
| 2016 | 19,384 | 87.9% | 12.1% |
| 2017 | 10,285 | 89.2% | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 8,871 | 89.9% | 10.1% |
| 2019 | 5,870 | 90.0% | 10.0% |
| 2020 | 3,869 | 90.0% | 10.0% |
| 2021 | 1,648 | 91.6% | 8.4% |
| 2022 | 560 | 92.1% | 7.9% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 4,965 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 3,219 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.4% | 1,823 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.0% | 1,517 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 1,403 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 604 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 577 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.3% | 241 |
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 | 1,905 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,647 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,135 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 1,078 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,034 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 756 |
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 | 22.1% | 17,044 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.9% | 9,948 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.4% | 4,900 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.8% | 4,498 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 2,116 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 1,112 |
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 | 13,643 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 32,750 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 20,738 | 14.8% |
| 90-120k | 7,386 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,968 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 607 | 19.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,036 | 10.3% |
| 2022 | 14,409 | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 15,945 | 12.3% |
| 2024 | 16,609 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 17,096 | 13.6% |
What to check before buying a BMW 220d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (6.4% 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 (4.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.4% 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 220d at MOT time?
87.8% of the 77,095 BMW 220d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate, worse than the 10.8% average across all 2 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 220d?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.2%).
Does the 220d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 19.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 77,095 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.