BMW 220i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 220i recorded a 90.4% MOT pass rate across 41,011 tests in this dataset (model years 2013–2024), with tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility its most common failure areas. Its 9.6% 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 | 3,111 | 86.8% | 13.2% |
| 2015 | 7,228 | 89.1% | 10.9% |
| 2016 | 6,308 | 89.4% | 10.6% |
| 2017 | 3,310 | 90.5% | 9.6% |
| 2018 | 4,852 | 91.7% | 8.3% |
| 2019 | 10,555 | 91.1% | 8.9% |
| 2020 | 2,031 | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| 2021 | 730 | 93.2% | 6.9% |
| 2022 | 2,613 | 93.5% | 6.5% |
| 2023 | 262 | 96.2% | 3.8% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.4% | 2,221 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 1,406 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.5% | 606 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 514 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 506 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 171 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 134 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 127 |
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 | 887 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 679 |
| 3 | Washers | 449 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 431 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 262 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 223 |
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 | 20.8% | 8,522 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.4% | 3,871 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.4% | 2,609 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 1,339 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 852 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 305 |
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 | 17,671 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 17,189 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,113 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 899 | 18.2% |
| 120-150k | 117 | 17.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,055 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 7,625 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 8,331 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 8,683 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 11,317 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a BMW 220i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (5.4% 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 (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 220i at MOT time?
90.4% of the 41,011 BMW 220i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate, better than the 10.8% average across all 2 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 220i?
Tyres, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.4%).
Does the 220i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 17.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,011 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.