BMW 218I SE Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 218I SE Auto car check
Is the BMW 218I SE Auto reliable? We analysed 5,497 real MOT tests across 1,156 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 218I SE Auto? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 218I SE Auto is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 218I SE Auto.
BMW 218I SE Auto Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 218I SE Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 218I SE Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 218I SE Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 218I SE Auto Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 218I SE Auto models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW 218I SE Auto Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 218I SE Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 218I SE Auto MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 218I SE Auto year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 155 | 89.7% | 17,750 | 23,029 | 30,924 |
| 2020 | 1,046 | 90.3% | 21,556 | 35,159 | 59,783 |
| 2019 | 2,473 | 88.5% | 20,974 | 33,890 | 54,009 |
| 2018 | 1,565 | 86.9% | 21,046 | 35,717 | 66,963 |
How Long Does a BMW 218I SE Auto Last?
Based on 1,156 BMW 218I SE Auto vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 218I SE Auto Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 218I SE Auto 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 218I SE Auto
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.3% MOT pass rate from 1,046 tests
86.9% MOT pass rate from 1,565 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 218I SE Auto is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.3% across 1,046 tests. The 2018 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 218I SE Auto Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 218I SE Auto THIS CAR | 88.7% | 5,497 | 34,511 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 |
| Yamaha Xvs | 89.9% | 8,868 | 8,491 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 218I SE Auto outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 218I SE Auto 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 218I SE AutoShould you buy a used BMW 218I SE Auto?
The BMW 218I SE Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.7% across 5,497 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 218I SE 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 218I SE Auto owner drives around 6,968 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.