BMW 118 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 118 car check
Is the BMW 118 reliable? We analysed 1,923,256 real MOT tests across 197,877 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 118? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 118 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and tyre has ply or cords exposed. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 118.
BMW 118 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 118. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 118 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 118 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 118 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW 118 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW 118 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 118 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW 118 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 118 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 118 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 118 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 70 | 91.4% | 12,339 | 18,894 | 34,335 |
| 2023 | 4,409 | 91.6% | 15,822 | 23,213 | 34,239 |
| 2022 | 15,607 | 91.4% | 17,379 | 24,826 | 34,388 |
| 2021 | 34,946 | 90.8% | 20,029 | 28,544 | 39,386 |
| 2020 | 69,400 | 89.9% | 21,252 | 30,496 | 42,333 |
| 2019 | 52,365 | 87.8% | 21,763 | 32,657 | 46,897 |
| 2018 | 70,163 | 86.1% | 25,116 | 37,169 | 52,482 |
| 2017 | 113,327 | 87.2% | 27,957 | 42,141 | 60,278 |
| 2016 | 119,193 | 86.0% | 30,988 | 46,794 | 66,798 |
| 2015 | 108,729 | 85.4% | 33,652 | 51,408 | 73,491 |
| 2014 | 52,552 | 82.9% | 42,081 | 64,710 | 90,552 |
| 2013 | 73,685 | 81.7% | 41,826 | 64,054 | 89,911 |
| 2012 | 90,843 | 79.7% | 45,225 | 70,227 | 98,548 |
| 2011 | 163,582 | 80.3% | 47,690 | 74,478 | 103,628 |
| 2010 | 204,542 | 79.5% | 49,546 | 77,664 | 108,294 |
| 2009 | 177,542 | 79.0% | 51,343 | 80,514 | 112,159 |
| 2008 | 172,972 | 78.2% | 54,789 | 85,184 | 116,620 |
| 2007 | 133,058 | 77.6% | 52,329 | 83,012 | 114,838 |
| 2006 | 119,460 | 77.2% | 56,356 | 89,203 | 123,945 |
| 2005 | 107,695 | 76.6% | 58,956 | 91,539 | 126,088 |
How Long Does a BMW 118 Last?
Based on 197,877 BMW 118 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 118 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 118 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 118
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
91.6% MOT pass rate from 4,409 tests
59.1% MOT pass rate from 115 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 118 is 2023, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.6% across 4,409 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 118 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 118 THIS CAR | 81.5% | 1,923,256 | 64,042 mi | 22 yrs |
| BMW 3 Series | 75.1% | 12,840,406 | 90,743 mi | 37 yrs |
| BMW X5 | 77% | 1,735,343 | 83,401 mi | 25 yrs |
| BMW 520 | 78.5% | 1,661,806 | 95,792 mi | 35 yrs |
| Mini Cooper S | 86.7% | 632,556 | 34,288 mi | 23 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW X5 (77.0% pass rate), the BMW 118 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 118 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific BMW 118Should you buy a used BMW 118?
The BMW 118 has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.5% across 1,923,256 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the BMW 118 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (33,763 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (14,229), and tyre has ply or cords exposed (10,699). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a BMW 118 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical BMW 118 owner drives around 6,893 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most BMW 118 models stay on UK roads for around 22 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.