BMW 216 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 216 car check
Is the BMW 216 reliable? We analysed 40,066 real MOT tests across 4,895 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 216? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 216 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 216.
BMW 216 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 216. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 216 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 216 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 216 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 216 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW 216 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 216 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 216 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 216 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2,859 | 86.3% | 29,884 | 45,155 | 65,014 |
| 2017 | 11,365 | 86.0% | 33,213 | 50,947 | 73,731 |
| 2016 | 15,359 | 84.0% | 38,567 | 58,545 | 83,381 |
| 2015 | 10,082 | 84.2% | 40,489 | 60,918 | 85,526 |
| 2014 | 108 | 80.6% | 49,338 | 78,716 | 107,104 |
How Long Does a BMW 216 Last?
Based on 4,895 BMW 216 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 216 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 216 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 216
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.3% MOT pass rate from 2,859 tests
80.6% MOT pass rate from 108 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 216 is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.3% across 2,859 tests. The 2014 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 216 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 216 THIS CAR | 84.8% | 40,066 | 55,961 mi | 11 yrs |
| BMW 3 Series | 75.1% | 12,840,406 | 90,743 mi | 37 yrs |
| BMW 118 | 81.5% | 1,923,256 | 64,042 mi | 22 yrs |
| BMW X5 | 77% | 1,735,343 | 83,401 mi | 25 yrs |
| Suzuki AY50 | 77.5% | 12,514 | 7,468 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 216 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 216 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 216Should you buy a used BMW 216?
The BMW 216 has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.8% across 40,066 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
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 216 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 216 owner drives around 7,381 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 216 models stay on UK roads for around 11 years. 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.