BMW 318 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 318 car check
Is the BMW 318 reliable? We analysed 63,980 real MOT tests across 9,842 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 318? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 318 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 318.
BMW 318 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 318. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 318 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 318 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 318 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 318 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW 318 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 318 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 318 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 318 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 238 | 84.9% | 33,164 | 49,120 | 62,230 |
| 2020 | 2,059 | 86.3% | 31,490 | 46,930 | 65,341 |
| 2019 | 7,949 | 88.5% | 30,743 | 44,115 | 62,002 |
| 2018 | 17,883 | 88.1% | 30,673 | 45,171 | 63,544 |
| 2017 | 21,191 | 87.4% | 35,451 | 53,207 | 75,974 |
| 2016 | 7,013 | 85.4% | 38,340 | 56,030 | 77,808 |
| 2015 | 394 | 80.5% | 40,350 | 62,666 | 94,173 |
| 2014 | 309 | 83.5% | 52,428 | 76,287 | 101,368 |
| 2013 | 240 | 78.3% | 55,787 | 84,268 | 104,891 |
| 2012 | 476 | 81.9% | 53,610 | 83,554 | 118,474 |
| 2011 | 760 | 78.3% | 50,209 | 74,507 | 105,436 |
| 2010 | 608 | 79.8% | 55,294 | 79,697 | 107,141 |
| 2009 | 643 | 78.8% | 49,082 | 78,126 | 111,906 |
| 2008 | 420 | 77.9% | 55,134 | 89,030 | 121,206 |
| 2007 | 542 | 80.8% | 45,087 | 74,605 | 106,874 |
| 2006 | 402 | 79.6% | 43,324 | 73,786 | 102,983 |
| 2005 | 188 | 78.7% | 52,202 | 70,625 | 100,035 |
| 2004 | 465 | 75.7% | 38,465 | 61,851 | 86,773 |
| 2003 | 296 | 75.0% | 46,619 | 74,214 | 107,743 |
| 2002 | 164 | 79.3% | 41,233 | 71,703 | 91,596 |
How Long Does a BMW 318 Last?
Based on 9,842 BMW 318 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 318 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 318 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 318
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.5% MOT pass rate from 7,949 tests
66.1% MOT pass rate from 109 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 318 is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.5% across 7,949 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 318 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 318 THIS CAR | 86.4% | 63,980 | 51,409 mi | 10 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 |
| Honda VTR1000 Sp | 88.3% | 25,488 | 16,323 mi | 26 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 318 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 318 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 318Should you buy a used BMW 318?
The BMW 318 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.4% across 63,980 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 318 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 318 owner drives around 7,634 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 318 models stay on UK roads for around 10 years. If you're buying one that's already well within 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.