Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 BMW 220?

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 2016 BMW 220?

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 2016 BMW 220?

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.

How many 2016 BMW 220 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

34% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2016 BMW 220 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 4,603 vehicles, the 2016 BMW 220 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 BMW 220?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 BMW 220 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (34.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (32.8% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (23.9% 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 2016 BMW 220?

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 220 (2016)

4,603 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.2% first-time pass rate

2016 BMW 220

CarHunch analysed 4,603 real MOT records for the 2016 BMW 220. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 BMW 220 passes its MOT first time at 88.2%, well above the UK average of 80%, but the significant concern here is that 33.6% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above acceptable levels for a buyer considering one. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly, with petrol just edging ahead at 89.6% versus 87.8% pass rates.

At nearly 50,000 miles median, these cars show typical wear for their age, yet they're averaging 6.4 advisories per test and 1.05 failures—signs that maintenance costs creep up as they age. Before buying, get a full inspection focused on braking and suspension components, since the dangerous defect rate suggests these are recurring weak points on this generation.

The 2016 BMW 220 has a decent first-time pass rate (88.2%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

88.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

33.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.05

Over 8.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

50k

Middle half: 38k–64k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 88.2% 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 6.4 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 4,603 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 4,603 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 34.1%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Brake wear 23.6%

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 13.2%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 4,603 BMW 220 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

89.6%

Petrol

1,161 vehicles

87.8%

Diesel

3,442 vehicles

Before you buy a 2016 BMW 220

Based on MOT data from 4,603 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.6% 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
Diesel (75%)	3,442	87.8%	1.11
Petrol (25%)	1,161	89.6%	0.9

Colour Breakdown

Based on 15,260 BMW 220 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 25.2%

3,850

Blue 19.9%

3,034

Black 19%

2,900

Grey 18%

2,748

Silver 10.6%

1,621

Red 6.3%

967

Orange 0.6%

Brown 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 BMW 220 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.

49,958

typical

37,679

low mileage

63,582

high mileage

Half of all 2016 BMW 220 vehicles fall between 37,679 and 63,582 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 37,679 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.

✓ 37,679–63,582 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 BMW 220s sit.

⚠ Over 85,835 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 BMW 220 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 BMW 220s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 4,343 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2018–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

8.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.05

Avg failures per vehicle

6.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 220: All 220 years → Which year to buy? →

2014 2015 2017 2018 2019

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Compare with another model

See how the 2016 BMW 220 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing