BMW 318 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the BMW 318. Check any 318 by registration number below.

Free, instant, no sign-up required.

86.8%

Avg Pass Rate

-3.1%

vs BMW Avg

Year Ranges

Excellent

Reliability

BMW 318 — MOT Reliability Overview

The BMW 318 has an average MOT pass rate of 86.8%, which is 3.1 percentage points below the BMW brand average of 89.9%. This is a strong result, indicating that the 318 is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a BMW 318 fails its MOT are tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm. If you are preparing your 318 for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Typical mileage for the 318 is around 138,927 miles at 5 years. When evaluating a used 318, compare the odometer reading against these benchmarks. Significantly lower mileage than expected could indicate a clocked vehicle — run a free mileage check to verify.

Before buying a used BMW 318, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the BMW 318 performs at MOT across different model years.

2021

Based on 187 vehicles

86.6%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.8%

Retest Rate

13.0%

Mileage at 3yr

61k mi

2020

Based on 1,475 vehicles

87.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.6%

Retest Rate

14.9%

Mileage at 3yr

60k mi

Mileage at 5yr

72k mi

2019

Based on 4,411 vehicles

90.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.4%

Retest Rate

11.3%

Mileage at 3yr

56k mi

Mileage at 5yr

83k mi

2018

Based on 7,300 vehicles

88.3%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.6%

Retest Rate

12.8%

Mileage at 5yr

78k mi

2017

Based on 7,040 vehicles

86.9%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.6%

Retest Rate

12.9%

Mileage at 5yr

83k mi

2016

Based on 2,215 vehicles

86.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.5%

Retest Rate

13.3%

2015

Based on 107 vehicles

86.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.4%

Retest Rate

14.3%

Mileage at 10yr

152k mi

2014

Based on 92 vehicles

84.8%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.6%

Retest Rate

13.1%

Mileage at 10yr

165k mi

2013

Based on 62 vehicles

75.8%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.3%

Retest Rate

21.1%

Mileage at 10yr

140k mi

2012

Based on 101 vehicles

74.3%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.4%

Retest Rate

29.4%

2011

Based on 144 vehicles

79.2%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

7.1%

Retest Rate

20.2%

2010

Based on 113 vehicles

77.9%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

9.0%

Retest Rate

24.4%

2009

Based on 99 vehicles

67.7%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.7%

Retest Rate

23.3%

2008

Based on 812 vehicles

93.7%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.7%

Retest Rate

48.3%

Mileage at 3yr

107k mi

Mileage at 5yr

139k mi

Mileage at 10yr

212k mi

2007

Based on 1,084 vehicles

95.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.6%

Retest Rate

30.4%

Mileage at 3yr

64k mi

Mileage at 5yr

116k mi

Mileage at 10yr

201k mi

2006

Based on 865 vehicles

93.4%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

2.9%

Mileage at 3yr

81k mi

Mileage at 5yr

121k mi

Mileage at 10yr

209k mi

2005

Based on 392 vehicles

91.8%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 5yr

143k mi

Mileage at 10yr

184k mi

2004

Based on 727 vehicles

91.7%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

16.0%

Retest Rate

12.0%

Mileage at 5yr

155k mi

Mileage at 10yr

201k mi

2003

Based on 1,028 vehicles

90.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

186k mi

2002

Based on 1,235 vehicles

89.6%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

183k mi

2001

Based on 959 vehicles

88.6%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

188k mi

2000

Based on 1,464 vehicles

88.9%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

172k mi

1999

Based on 1,689 vehicles

89.6%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

188k mi

1998

Based on 2,498 vehicles

88.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

179k mi

1997

Based on 2,067 vehicles

87.2%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1996

Based on 2,101 vehicles

86.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1995

Based on 1,805 vehicles

87.8%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1994

Based on 1,144 vehicles

87.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1993

Based on 1,077 vehicles

87.8%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1992

Based on 1,063 vehicles

88.9%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1991

Based on 819 vehicles

88.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.6%

Retest Rate

2.6%

1990

Based on 474 vehicles

90.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.0%

Retest Rate

15.2%

0

Based on 10,120 vehicles

88.3%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 5yr

55k mi

Top MOT Failures — BMW 318

The most common reasons a BMW 318 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

1.8%

A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED

1.2%

a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm

1.2%

A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage

1.1%

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

1.1%

BMW 318 Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Nearside

3.2%

Front Offside

2.7%

Rear Offside

2.1%

Typical Mileage — BMW 318

Average mileage readings recorded at MOT tests for the 2008 model year range. Use these benchmarks to evaluate a used 318.

At 3 Years

106,694

miles

At 5 Years

138,927

miles

At 10 Years

212,194

miles

Other BMW Models

Compare MOT reliability across BMW models.

BMW 420d Xdrive M Sport Mhev Auto

90.4% pass rate

BMW X2 Sdrive18d Sport

87.3% pass rate

BMW X2 Sdrive18d M Sport X Auto

87.0% pass rate

BMW 550

82.4% pass rate

BMW 316 I

89.0% pass rate

BMW 540i Xdrive M Sport Mhev Auto

75.6% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for BMW 318

BMW 318 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the BMW 318 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW 318?

The average MOT pass rate for the BMW 318 is 86.8% compared to the BMW average of 89.9%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a BMW 318?

The most common MOT failures on the BMW 318 are: Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (1.8%), A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED (1.2%), a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm (1.2%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the BMW 318 reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 86.8%, the BMW 318 is rated as "Excellent" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a BMW 318?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a BMW 318?

Typical mileage for the BMW 318: 61,037 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used 318 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your BMW 318's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.