BMW 218I Luxury
From 1,168 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 218I Luxurys fare better: 2020 models pass at 91.9% vs 87.5% for 2019.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. The top issue, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, caused 24 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 | 24 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 17 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 15 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 13 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 7 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 7 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 7 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 6 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 5 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 5 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 51.9% of failures are serious: 47.2% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 4.7% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £84.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 91.9% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2019 | 87.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2018 | 88.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all 218I Luxurys tested had between 22,080 and 42,679 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 30,657 median miles, the 218I Luxury has 0.038 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
Common questions
What is the BMW 218I Luxury MOT pass rate?
The BMW 218I Luxury has a 88.5% MOT pass rate based on 1,168 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 218I Luxury?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 218I Luxury is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which caused 24 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 218I Luxury at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 218I Luxury is 30,657 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 22,080 and 42,679 miles.
Buying a used 218I Luxury?
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.
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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.