BMW 218I M Sport
From 7,458 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 218I M Sports fare better: 2022 models pass at 97.2% vs 92.9% for 2020.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and a tyre cords visible or damaged. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 257 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 | 257 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 81 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 59 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 27 |
| brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator | 21 |
| audible warning inoperative | 21 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 17 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 16 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 13 |
| seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended | 12 |
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 97.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2021 | 89.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 92.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2019 | 88.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
1 earlier years
| 2018 | 81.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all 218I M Sports tested had between 17,426 and 38,099 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 24,888 median miles, the 218I M Sport has 0.04 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 M Sport MOT pass rate?
The BMW 218I M Sport has a 90% MOT pass rate based on 7,458 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 218I M Sport?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 218I M Sport is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 257 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 218I M Sport at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 218I M Sport is 24,888 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 17,426 and 38,099 miles.
Buying a used 218I M Sport?
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.