BMW 518 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 518 car check
Is the BMW 518 reliable? We analysed 62,660 real MOT tests across 8,904 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 518? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 518 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 518.
BMW 518 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 518. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 518 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 518 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 518 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW 518 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW 518 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 518 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 518 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 518 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 221 | 85.5% | 49,769 | 74,644 | 101,350 |
| 2016 | 2,825 | 87.2% | 57,826 | 82,393 | 112,698 |
| 2015 | 6,093 | 86.2% | 64,386 | 90,801 | 119,883 |
| 2014 | 10,948 | 84.8% | 64,234 | 92,218 | 124,229 |
| 2013 | 4,661 | 83.5% | 64,514 | 93,341 | 127,851 |
| 2011 | 61 | 85.2% | 101,297 | 137,542 | 180,102 |
| 2007 | 51 | 74.5% | 102,338 | 129,691 | 149,983 |
| 2000 | 84 | 67.9% | 82,806 | 98,830 | 112,674 |
| 1998 | 131 | 66.4% | 112,898 | 131,036 | 157,962 |
| 1997 | 70 | 70.0% | 100,521 | 123,848 | 146,012 |
| 1996 | 4,664 | 68.3% | 101,214 | 126,076 | 151,273 |
| 1995 | 8,666 | 67.0% | 99,755 | 124,102 | 151,767 |
| 1994 | 4,436 | 65.8% | 105,499 | 132,368 | 160,248 |
| 1993 | 4,104 | 66.7% | 84,788 | 118,396 | 150,614 |
| 1992 | 4,814 | 65.4% | 106,323 | 135,059 | 163,780 |
| 1991 | 3,758 | 65.3% | 111,035 | 138,483 | 166,103 |
| 1990 | 3,131 | 66.4% | 111,328 | 138,436 | 165,552 |
| 1988 | 627 | 65.2% | 106,955 | 131,570 | 155,804 |
| 1987 | 1,288 | 66.5% | 89,908 | 118,725 | 148,042 |
| 1986 | 725 | 64.8% | 91,336 | 121,668 | 150,480 |
How Long Does a BMW 518 Last?
Based on 8,904 BMW 518 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 518 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 518 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 518
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.2% MOT pass rate from 2,825 tests
64.8% MOT pass rate from 725 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 518 is 2016, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.2% across 2,825 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 518 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 518 THIS CAR | 74.0% | 62,660 | 114,191 mi | 41 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 |
| Morris Minor | 73.6% | 72,367 | 45,592 mi | 76 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 518 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 518 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 518Should you buy a used BMW 518?
The BMW 518 has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.0% across 62,660 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the BMW 518 are brake pipe excessively corroded (3,373 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2,837), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (1,465). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical BMW 518 owner drives around 6,367 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 518 models stay on UK roads for around 41 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. 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.