In 2025, 152,038 BMW 118 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 79% passed first time, compared with 75% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the 118 better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 71 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 3 years old, 91% of 118s passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 20 years, that figure is 61% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 4 to 20 years.
BMW 118 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | 118 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 9,945 | 91% | 88% | 25,389 |
| 4 years | 12,721 | 91% | 87% | 33,635 |
| 5 years | 17,755 | 88% | 86% | 39,939 |
| 6 years | 10,276 | 85% | 84% | 46,048 |
| 7 years | 11,132 | 82% | 81% | 54,145 |
| 8 years | 14,706 | 81% | 78% | 63,102 |
| 9 years | 13,696 | 80% | 75% | 71,112 |
| 10 years | 10,864 | 80% | 72% | 79,306 |
| 11 years | 4,294 | 74% | 69% | 96,745 |
| 12 years | 5,355 | 71% | 66% | 96,937 |
| 13 years | 5,479 | 66% | 63% | 106,503 |
| 14 years | 8,548 | 67% | 61% | 110,701 |
| 15 years | 9,171 | 66% | 59% | 115,496 |
| 16 years | 6,616 | 65% | 58% | 119,742 |
| 17 years | 4,534 | 64% | 57% | 123,800 |
| 18 years | 2,667 | 63% | 57% | 122,847 |
| 19 years | 2,056 | 61% | 57% | 134,312 |
| 20 years | 1,224 | 61% | 58% | 134,739 |
What fails most on a BMW 118
The area that lets the 118 down most, relative to other cars, is road wheels: 1.0% of tests failed on it, 8.1 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on body and structure and suspension.
Share of 118 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 4.2% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.5% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.4% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 2.5% |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | Suspension | 2.4% |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | Brakes | 1.8% |
What to check when buying a used 118
Based on where the 118 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Road wheels: Look for damaged rims and missing wheel nuts. More
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific 118
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a 118Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 118?
In 2025, 79% of BMW 118 cars passed their MOT first time, across 152,038 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 75%.
What do BMW 118 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (4.2% of tests); tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (3.5% of tests); a tyre seriously damaged (3.4% of tests).
Other BMW models
BMW 3 Series (73%), BMW X1 (82%), BMW 116 (72%), BMW X3 (79%), BMW 1 Series (78%), BMW X5 (79%). All BMW models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.