BMW 218 (2019)

3,699 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.4% first-time pass rate

2019 BMW 218

CarHunch analysed 3,699 real MOT records for the 2019 BMW 218. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2019 BMW 218 passes MOT significantly better than the UK average, with a 90.4% first-time pass rate versus 80% nationally—a strong showing that holds true across both petrol (90.5%) and diesel (90.1%) variants. However, just over one in five vehicles has recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a meaningful concern for safety-conscious buyers.

These cars are running relatively light mileage at around 30,400 miles on average for a five-year-old model, suggesting they've been treated reasonably well. The typical vehicle racks up 0.53 failures and 3.0 advisories per test, indicating minor maintenance issues are common but major problems are rare—so budget for routine wear items like brakes and filters, but the mechanical bones appear sound.

Average reliability 10.4% above UK average
90.4%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
26,983
typical mileage
19,311–36,420 middle half
21.7%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.53
avg MOT failures per car
over 4.6 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2019 BMW 218

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 21.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a BMW 218

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (73%) 2,705 90.5% 0.53
Diesel (27%) 993 90.1% 0.53
Other (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2019 BMW 218 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

19,311
low mileage
26,983
typical
36,420
high mileage

Half of all 2019 BMW 218 vehicles fall between 19,311 and 36,420 miles.

2019 BMW 218 — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 3,543 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

3,538 3,543 2022 2025

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

4.6
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.53
Avg failures per vehicle
3
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2019 BMW 218

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 20.4%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 20.2%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 19.1%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 16.4%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 15.9%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 14.2%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 5.6%
    Nearside Rear Nail in tyre ()
  • 4.6%
    Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2019. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific BMW 218?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — BMW 218:

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2020