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BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto car check

Is the BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto reliable? We analysed 500 real MOT tests across 165 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto? Enter the reg for a free check:

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Data last updated: · Based on 500 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.4%
Typical Mileage
58,758mi
Annual Mileage
11,156mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto.

BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.3%
2021
89%
2020

BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 4
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 2

BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
7,019 mi/yr
Typical
11,156 mi/yr
Average
13,062 mi/yr
Heavy usage
16,223 mi/yr

BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 173 87.3% 35,801 50,781 69,788
2020 317 89.0% 45,048 62,903 78,581

How Long Does a BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto Last?

Based on 165 BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
4.1 years
Median
4.0 years

BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
58,758 mi
75th Percentile
77,504 mi
95th Percentile
100,297 mi
Max Recorded
148,969 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto

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

Best year
2020

89.0% MOT pass rate from 317 tests

Year to avoid
2021

87.3% MOT pass rate from 173 tests

The best year to buy a used BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.0% across 317 tests. The 2021 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto THIS CAR 88.4% 500 58,758 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
Ford Transit Custom 280 Limited 90.6% 288 73,290 mi — yrs

Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto you like?

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Should you buy a used BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto?

The BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.4% across 500 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 brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a BMW 318D SE MHEV 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 318D SE MHEV Auto owner drives around 11,156 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 318D SE MHEV Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto reliable?
Based on 500 MOT tests, the BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto has a 88.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto do per year?
The typical BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto does around 11,156 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a BMW 318D SE MHEV 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 318D SE MHEV Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used BMW 318D SE MHEV Auto is 2020 with a 89.0% pass rate across 317 tests.