BMW 418d — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 418d recorded a 86.7% MOT pass rate across 5,781 tests in this dataset (model years 2014–2018), with tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes its most common failure areas. Its 13.3% fail rate is higher than the 11.8% average across all BMW 4 Series versions.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 623 | 84.6% | 15.4% |
| 2015 | 2,453 | 85.9% | 14.1% |
| 2016 | 2,087 | 88.0% | 12.0% |
| 2017 | 612 | 87.6% | 12.4% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.6% | 381 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 218 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.8% | 159 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 149 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 125 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 81 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 46 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.4% | 26 |
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 | 254 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 131 |
| 3 | Washers | 120 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 107 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 79 |
| 6 | Attachment | 75 |
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 | 25.0% | 1,446 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 1,073 |
| 3 | Other defects | 11.7% | 676 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.1% | 352 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 249 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 171 |
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 | 200 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,467 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,059 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,312 | 15.5% |
| 120-150k | 564 | 16.0% |
| 150k+ | 179 | 14.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,199 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 1,149 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 1,185 | 15.3% |
| 2024 | 1,138 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 1,110 | 13.5% |
What to check before buying a BMW 418d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (6.6% 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 (3.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.8% 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 418d at MOT time?
86.7% of the 5,781 BMW 418d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.3% fail rate, worse than the 11.8% average across all 4 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 418d?
Tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.8%).
Does the 418d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 14.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,781 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.