2018 BMW M2 Competition — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 BMW M2 Competition passed 93.8% of its 514 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 11.1% of the time, so this is 4.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.9%) and suspension (2.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 9 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 10.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.9% | 15 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.1% | 11 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 7 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 5 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.8% | 4 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.8% | 4 |
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 | 9 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 7 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 6 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 5 |
| 5 | Hydraulic brake callipers | 2 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 2 |
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 | 10.7% | 55 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.5% | 23 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.3% | 17 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 9 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 4 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 3 |
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 | 341 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 156 | 7.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 104 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 97 | 3.1% |
| 2023 | 101 | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 102 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 110 | 7.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 M2 Competition
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.9% 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.
- Suspension (2.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.4% 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 many 2018 BMW M2 Competitions pass their MOT?
93.8% of the 514 2018 BMW M2 Competition MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 BMW M2 Competition?
Tyres, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by suspension (2.1%).
Does the 2018 M2 Competition get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 7.7% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 514 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.