BMW 218I Luxury Auto
From 1,456 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged and a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 36 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.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 36 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 14 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 9 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 9 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 6 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 6 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 5 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 4 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 4 |
| a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud | 3 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 66.7% of 218I Luxury Auto failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 0% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £75.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 89.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2019 | 89.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2018 | 83.4% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a tyre seriously damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all 218I Luxury Autos tested had between 19,737 and 44,243 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 28,948 median miles, the 218I Luxury Auto has 0.039 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 Auto MOT pass rate?
The BMW 218I Luxury Auto has a 88.7% MOT pass rate based on 1,456 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 218I Luxury Auto?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 218I Luxury Auto is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 36 failures. Other common issues include a tyre cords visible or damaged.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 218I Luxury Auto at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 218I Luxury Auto is 28,948 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 19,737 and 44,243 miles.
Buying a used 218I Luxury Auto?
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.