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BMW 218D Sport Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free BMW 218D Sport Auto car check

Is the BMW 218D Sport Auto reliable? We analysed 1,088 real MOT tests across 315 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,088 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.0%
Typical Mileage
40,262mi
Annual Mileage
8,356mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The BMW 218D Sport Auto is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 218D Sport Auto.

BMW 218D Sport Auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a BMW 218D Sport Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

BMW 218D Sport Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a BMW 218D Sport Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

94.1%
2022
89.7%
2021
81.3%
2020
88.5%
2019
90.7%
2018

BMW 218D Sport Auto Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 218D Sport Auto models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 11
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 4
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 3

BMW 218D Sport Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical BMW 218D Sport Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,585 mi/yr
Typical
8,356 mi/yr
Average
9,665 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,183 mi/yr

BMW 218D Sport Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 218D Sport Auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 51 94.1% 22,854 28,663 42,615
2021 117 89.7% 35,025 56,849 79,283
2020 155 81.3% 24,000 35,512 52,652
2019 427 88.5% 26,362 37,511 51,966
2018 140 90.7% 23,350 35,411 48,733

How Long Does a BMW 218D Sport Auto Last?

Based on 315 BMW 218D Sport Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
4.3 years
Median
4.0 years

BMW 218D Sport Auto Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all BMW 218D Sport Auto MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
40,262 mi
75th Percentile
59,390 mi
95th Percentile
96,017 mi
Max Recorded
143,099 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 218D Sport Auto

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2022

94.1% MOT pass rate from 51 tests

Year to avoid
2020

81.3% MOT pass rate from 155 tests

The best year to buy a used BMW 218D Sport Auto is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.1% across 51 tests. The 2020 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the BMW 218D Sport Auto Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
BMW 218D Sport Auto THIS CAR 89.0% 1,088 40,262 mi — 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
Mercedes-benz Gla 180 Urban Edition Auto 96.5% 367 32,981 mi — yrs

Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 218D Sport Auto outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used BMW 218D Sport Auto?

The BMW 218D Sport Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.0% across 1,088 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 218D Sport Auto 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 218D Sport Auto owner drives around 8,356 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.

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.

BMW 218D Sport Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the BMW 218D Sport Auto reliable?
Based on 1,088 MOT tests, the BMW 218D Sport Auto has a 89.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a BMW 218D Sport Auto?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a BMW 218D Sport Auto do per year?
The typical BMW 218D Sport Auto does around 8,356 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a BMW 218D Sport Auto last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a BMW 218D Sport Auto?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a BMW 218D Sport Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used BMW 218D Sport Auto is 2022 with a 94.1% pass rate across 51 tests.