BMW 118
From 229,516 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 118s fare better: 2022 models pass at 96.2% vs 69.3% for 2005.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged and a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage. The top issue, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, caused 5,100 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 5,100 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 4,798 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 3,539 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 2,973 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 2,853 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 2,587 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 2,388 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 2,001 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,306 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 1,305 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 42.1% of 118 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 12.3% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £99.
The warranty question
A new 118 passes its MOT 91.7% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 84.6%, a 7.1 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 78.9%. With an average repair bill of £99 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a 118 that's past its third birthday.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 87% while Diesel versions pass at 77.7%, a 9 percentage point gap.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 96.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2021 | 92.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2020 | 91.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 88.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
15 earlier years
| 2018 | 85.9% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2017 | 85.9% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 84.6% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 83.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2014 | 80.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 78.9% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2012 | 75.4% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2011 | 74.5% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2010 | 74.9% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2009 | 73.1% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2008 | 73% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2007 | 71.4% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
| 2006 | 68.5% | a flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2005 | 69.3% | a flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2004 | 64.7% | a flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all 118s tested had between 79,988 and 136,464 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 112,809 median miles, the 118 has 0.015 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
| BMW X1 | 86.5% |
Common questions
What is the BMW 118 MOT pass rate?
The BMW 118 has a 82.8% MOT pass rate based on 229,516 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 118?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 118 is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which caused 5,100 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 118 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 118 is 112,809 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 79,988 and 136,464 miles.
Buying a used 118?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 82.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £99 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.