MOT failure data · 2025

BMW 218I MOT problems

Across every BMW 218I that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords, on 18.09% of failure items. The broadest problem area was tyres at 45.89%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common BMW 218I MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	Tyres	18.09%
2	Tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	10.64%
3	Condition has ply or cords exposed	Tyres	6.56%
4	Brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	5.17%
5	Condition has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure	Tyres	5.06%
6	Brake pads worn down to wear indicator	Brakes	4.05%
7	Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	3.32%
8	Front fog lamps not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2.88%
9	Washers provides insufficient washer liquid	Visibility	2.88%
10	Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction	Noise, emissions and leaks	2.15%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a BMW 218I, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used BMW 218I buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific BMW 218I?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other BMW models

BMW 218I MOT FAQs

What does a BMW 218I most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on BMW 218I cars failing their 2025 MOT was "condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords", appearing on 18.09% of failure items.

Does this mean my BMW 218I will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every BMW 218I that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The BMW 218I passed 89.88% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific BMW 218I's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.