BMW 318i — MOT pass rate & failures
27,161 MOT tests on the BMW 318i (1985–2025) give an 88.6% pass rate. That is 6.0 percentage points better than the 17.4% fail rate across all BMW 3 Series versions, so the 318i is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 921 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.2% versus 5.9%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 31 | 87.1% | 12.9% |
| 1990 | 52 | 78.8% | 21.1% |
| 1991 | 43 | 83.7% | 16.3% |
| 1999 | 34 | 67.7% | 32.4% |
| 2001 | 40 | 75.0% | 25.0% |
| 2002 | 51 | 78.4% | 21.6% |
| 2003 | 70 | 81.4% | 18.6% |
| 2004 | 95 | 69.5% | 30.5% |
| 2005 | 64 | 79.7% | 20.3% |
| 2006 | 108 | 80.6% | 19.4% |
| 2007 | 168 | 76.8% | 23.2% |
| 2008 | 108 | 75.9% | 24.1% |
| 2009 | 166 | 74.7% | 25.3% |
| 2010 | 127 | 78.0% | 22.1% |
| 2011 | 189 | 83.6% | 16.4% |
| 2012 | 66 | 83.3% | 16.7% |
| 2015 | 36 | 75.0% | 25.0% |
| 2016 | 2,684 | 86.9% | 13.1% |
| 2017 | 7,422 | 88.3% | 11.7% |
| 2018 | 9,415 | 89.7% | 10.3% |
| 2019 | 1,631 | 92.5% | 7.5% |
| 2020 | 647 | 88.9% | 11.1% |
| 2021 | 3,293 | 90.3% | 9.7% |
| 2022 | 437 | 93.4% | 6.6% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 1,356 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.1% | 845 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 834 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.0% | 542 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 467 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 341 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 113 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 100 |
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 | 921 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 704 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 565 |
| 4 | Washers | 382 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 300 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 213 |
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% | 5,988 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.8% | 4,305 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.1% | 1,932 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.5% | 1,506 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 872 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 689 |
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 | 6,498 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 12,910 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,461 | 15.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,713 | 17.2% |
| 120-150k | 439 | 23.5% |
| 150k+ | 132 | 21.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,223 | 9.3% |
| 2022 | 4,646 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 4,909 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 6,547 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 6,836 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a BMW 318i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Brakes (3.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 318i at MOT time?
88.6% of the 27,161 BMW 318i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.4% fail rate, better than the 17.4% average across all 3 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 318i?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by brakes (3.1%).
Does the 318i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,161 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.