BMW 118 MOT pass rate
In 2023, the BMW 118 passed 77.2% of its first MOT tests, from 142,634 tests in Great Britain. That is 5.8 points above the 71.4% average for all cars, taxis and light vans.
Most common BMW 118 MOT failures
The area that failed most often was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, affecting 8.0% of tests. The red line shows the average for all cars.
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 8.0% vs 11.3%
- Tyres 7.4% vs 6.3%
- Brakes 5.1% vs 6.8%
- Suspension 4.5% vs 8.9%
- Visibility 4.1% vs 4.8%
- Noise, emissions and leaks 1.8% vs 3.1%
- Body, chassis, structure 1.2% vs 3.4%
- Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 0.8% vs 1.0%
- Tyres: condition 4.3% vs 3.7%
- Headlamp aim 3.6% vs 3.3%
- Tread depth 3.2% vs 2.6%
- Washers 2.7% vs 2.5%
- Shock absorbers 2.6% vs 1.1%
- Brake pads 2.2% vs 2.1%
- Headlamp 1.7% vs 2.2%
- Position lamp 1.4% vs 2.8%
Top reasons for failure
| Reason for failure | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | 3.0% |
| Shock absorbers: Has a serious fluid leak | 2.3% |
| Washers: Provides insufficient washer liquid | 1.9% |
| Brake pads: Less than 1.5 mm thick | 1.8% |
| Headlamp aim: Too low | 1.6% |
| Tyres: condition: Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 1.5% |
| Position lamp: Not working | 1.3% |
| Headlamp aim: Projected beam image is obviously incorrect | 1.3% |
| Headlamp: Not working on dipped beam | 1.3% |
| Tyres: condition: Has ply or cords exposed | 1.3% |
BMW 118 pass rate by age
The pass rate changes with age: 87.5% for cars aged 3 to 5 years and 62.9% for those aged 15 years or more. Older cars usually fail more often because parts like suspension, brakes and exhausts wear with time and mileage.
- 3 to 5 years 87.5% vs 71.4%
- 6 to 9 years 81.7% vs 71.4%
- 10 to 14 years 67.8% vs 71.4%
- 15 years or more 62.9% vs 71.4%
Pass rate by fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 73,140 | 71.3% |
| Petrol | 69,492 | 83.5% |
Most common BMW 118 advisories
Advisories do not fail the test, but they often become failures by the next MOT. These were noted most often:
- Tread depth 20.3%
- Brake pads 9.3%
- Brake discs 8.6%
- Tyres: condition 6.7%
- Vehicle 5.7%
- Shock absorbers 5.2%
- Flexible brake hoses 3.5%
- Pins and bushes 3.4%
See MOT advisories explained for what to do about them.
How we worked this out
These figures come from DVSA's anonymised MOT testing data for 2023, covering every class 4 MOT test in Great Britain (cars, taxis and light vans). We count normal tests only, not retests. A test counts as a first-time pass if the vehicle passed without any repairs. Tests where defects were fixed at the test centre within an hour (PRS) count as fails, in line with DVSA's own statistics. Failure areas show the share of tests with at least one failure in that area, so the figures add up to more than the fail rate.
Other BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW 118?
In 2023, 77.2% of BMW 118 MOT tests were passed first time, from 142,634 tests in Great Britain. The average for all cars, taxis and light vans was 71.4%.
What is the most common MOT failure on the BMW 118?
The most common failure area was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, which caused 8.0% of tests to fail. Next came tyres (7.4%) and brakes (5.1%).
Is the BMW 118 reliable at its MOT?
Its first-time pass rate of 77.2% is 5.8 points above the average and ranks 23 of the 100 most-tested models. Age and mileage matter more than the model, so always check the history of the car you are buying.
How do I check a BMW 118's MOT history?
Enter its registration in our free MOT history check. You will see every test, the mileage at each test and all failures and advisories.