BMW 218 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 218 car check
Is the BMW 218 reliable? We analysed 371,982 real MOT tests across 48,935 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 218? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 218 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 218.
BMW 218 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 218. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 218 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 218 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 218 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 218 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW 218 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 218 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 218 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 218 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 166 | 84.9% | 20,116 | 29,812 | 42,446 |
| 2020 | 8,286 | 88.7% | 17,469 | 26,177 | 37,529 |
| 2019 | 18,906 | 88.2% | 19,098 | 28,894 | 41,413 |
| 2018 | 51,268 | 87.8% | 23,157 | 34,880 | 50,349 |
| 2017 | 75,522 | 87.9% | 26,095 | 39,721 | 57,480 |
| 2016 | 101,766 | 86.0% | 29,669 | 45,071 | 65,008 |
| 2015 | 86,611 | 86.0% | 31,829 | 49,230 | 71,445 |
| 2014 | 26,472 | 83.9% | 35,762 | 55,670 | 80,162 |
How Long Does a BMW 218 Last?
Based on 48,935 BMW 218 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 218 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 218 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 218
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.7% MOT pass rate from 8,286 tests
83.9% MOT pass rate from 26,472 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 218 is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.7% across 8,286 tests. The 2014 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 218 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 218 THIS CAR | 86.6% | 371,982 | 42,323 mi | 12 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 |
| Isuzu Trooper | 69% | 362,452 | 117,154 mi | 38 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 218 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 218 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 218Should you buy a used BMW 218?
The BMW 218 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.6% across 371,982 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 218 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 218 owner drives around 6,313 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 218 models stay on UK roads for around 12 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.