BMW 318d — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 318d passed 88.8% of its 26,830 MOT tests, covering model years 1997–2022. That is 6.3 percentage points better than the 17.4% fail rate across all BMW 3 Series versions, so the 318d is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 950 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.1% in the 0-30k band and 18.1% in the 150k+ band, a 11.0-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 60 | 78.3% | 21.7% |
| 2009 | 89 | 77.5% | 22.5% |
| 2010 | 109 | 77.1% | 22.9% |
| 2011 | 104 | 76.0% | 24.0% |
| 2012 | 136 | 80.2% | 19.9% |
| 2013 | 128 | 80.5% | 19.5% |
| 2014 | 162 | 85.8% | 14.2% |
| 2015 | 189 | 84.7% | 15.3% |
| 2016 | 1,991 | 87.4% | 12.6% |
| 2017 | 7,904 | 89.1% | 10.9% |
| 2018 | 6,593 | 90.1% | 9.9% |
| 2019 | 5,396 | 89.2% | 10.8% |
| 2020 | 2,330 | 88.9% | 11.1% |
| 2021 | 1,393 | 87.9% | 12.1% |
| 2022 | 197 | 92.4% | 7.6% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 1,588 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 739 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.5% | 677 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 445 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 362 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 268 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 126 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 75 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 950 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 595 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 509 |
| 4 | Washers | 307 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 249 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 239 |
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 | 23.1% | 6,198 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.1% | 4,062 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 1,760 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.0% | 1,334 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 853 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 680 |
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 | 4,139 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 11,572 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,965 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,763 | 14.9% |
| 120-150k | 935 | 13.7% |
| 150k+ | 452 | 18.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,626 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 4,954 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 5,754 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 6,314 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 6,182 | 12.0% |
What to check before buying a BMW 318d
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 (2.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.5% 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 318d at MOT time?
88.8% of the 26,830 BMW 318d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.2% fail rate, better than the 17.4% average across all 3 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 318d?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.8%).
Does the 318d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 18.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,830 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.