BMW 218I Sport Auto
From 1,981 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 and a tyre cords visible or damaged. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 52 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 | 52 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 20 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 14 |
| a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud | 14 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 10 |
| brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator | 9 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 7 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 6 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 5 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 4 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 56% of 218I Sport 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 £74.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 86.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud |
| 2019 | 89.6% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 86.9% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all 218I Sport Autos tested had between 17,224 and 36,888 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 23,875 median miles, the 218I Sport Auto has 0.044 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 Sport Auto MOT pass rate?
The BMW 218I Sport Auto has a 89.6% MOT pass rate based on 1,981 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 218I Sport Auto?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 218I Sport Auto is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 52 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 218I Sport Auto at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 218I Sport Auto is 23,875 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 17,224 and 36,888 miles.
Buying a used 218I Sport 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.