BMW 418 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 418 car check
Is the BMW 418 reliable? We analysed 9,973 real MOT tests across 1,235 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 418? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 418 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 418.
BMW 418 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 418. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 418 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 418 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 418 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 418 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW 418 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 418 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 418 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 418 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 931 | 84.3% | 43,542 | 65,576 | 89,415 |
| 2016 | 3,314 | 86.5% | 46,612 | 68,000 | 92,664 |
| 2015 | 4,400 | 85.4% | 43,582 | 66,933 | 92,042 |
| 2014 | 1,262 | 84.1% | 50,009 | 74,868 | 102,065 |
How Long Does a BMW 418 Last?
Based on 1,235 BMW 418 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 418 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 418 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 418
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.5% MOT pass rate from 3,314 tests
84.1% MOT pass rate from 1,262 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 418 is 2016, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.5% across 3,314 tests. The 2014 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 418 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 418 THIS CAR | 85.5% | 9,973 | 68,154 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 |
| Nissan Cherry | 66.7% | 5,953 | 61,072 mi | 46 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 418 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 418 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 418Should you buy a used BMW 418?
The BMW 418 has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.5% across 9,973 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 418 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 418 owner drives around 8,075 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 418 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.