Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2020 BMW 118?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2020 BMW 118?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2020 BMW 118?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2020 BMW 118 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 17,502 vehicles, the 2020 BMW 118 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 92.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2020 BMW 118?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2020 BMW 118 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (22% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21.9% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (11.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2020 BMW 118?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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BMW 118 (2020)

17,502 real MOT outcomes analysed • 92.3% first-time pass rate

2020 BMW 118

CarHunch analysed 17,502 real MOT records for the 2020 BMW 118. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2020 BMW 118 is a reliable performer, passing its MOT on first attempt 92.2% of the time—well above the UK average of 80%—and only 12.5% have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is reassuringly low. Petrol and diesel variants are closely matched, both exceeding 91% pass rates, so fuel choice won't materially affect dependability here.

At an average mileage of 31,842 miles for a four-year-old car, these examples are running slightly above typical wear, yet they're still failing very infrequently (0.34 failures per vehicle). When issues do appear, they tend to be minor—advisories average 2.3 per MOT—so if you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection focusing on service history and any previous advisory trends will give you a realistic picture of what you're taking on.

The 2020 BMW 118 passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (92.3% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

92.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

12.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.34

Over 3.5 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

29k

Middle half: 21k–38k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 92.3% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 2.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 17,502 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 17,502 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 22%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 11%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 5.5%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2020.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 17,502 BMW 118 cars.

Before you buy a 2020 BMW 118

Based on MOT data from 17,502 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (89%)	15,581	92.4%	0.34
Diesel (11%)	1,921	91.4%	0.38

Colour Breakdown

Based on 189,903 BMW 118 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 25.8%

49,046

White 23.8%

45,278

Grey 19.7%

37,464

Blue 16.2%

30,839

Silver 9.1%

17,285

Red 3.9%

7,431

Orange 0.7%

1,242

Brown 0.3%

588

Green 0.3%

508

Gold 0.1%

111

Bronze 0.1%

Yellow 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2020 BMW 118 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

28,914

typical

21,492

low mileage

37,542

high mileage

Half of all 2020 BMW 118 vehicles fall between 21,492 and 37,542 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 21,492 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 21,492–37,542 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2020 BMW 118s sit.

⚠ Over 50,681 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2020 BMW 118 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2020 BMW 118s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 16,892 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2022–2025.

MOT History Averages

3.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.34

Avg failures per vehicle

2.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 118: All 118 years → Which year to buy? →

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See how the 2020 BMW 118 stacks up against a rival.

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