BMW 218I Se
From 2,397 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, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 44 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 | 44 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 28 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 22 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 17 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 15 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 14 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 13 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 12 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 10 |
| brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator | 9 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 50.5% of failures are serious: 44% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 6.5% 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 £83.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 88.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2019 | 86.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2018 | 88.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all 218I Ses tested had between 24,812 and 44,003 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 34,351 median miles, the 218I Se has 0.036 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 Se MOT pass rate?
The BMW 218I Se has a 87.6% MOT pass rate based on 2,397 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 218I Se?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 218I Se is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 44 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 218I Se at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 218I Se is 34,351 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 24,812 and 44,003 miles.
Buying a used 218I Se?
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.