What year BMW 318i SE is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2009 BMW 318i SE has the highest pass rate at 85.6%, out of 100 vehicles tested.

What are the most common BMW 318i SE MOT failures?

The most common BMW 318i SE MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

CarHunch

Get Started

BMW 318i SE — Reliability by Year

2,555 vehicles · MOT data 1998–2009 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the BMW 318i SE was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

✓

Best pass rate year

2009

85.6% pass rate · 100 vehicles

⚠

Lowest pass rate year

1999

70.7% pass rate · 731 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2009	85.6%	88,599 mi	100
2007	81.2%	97,237 mi	170
2006	77.9%	105,212 mi	136
2003	79.7%	103,973 mi	105
2002	73.8%	111,489 mi	346
2001	72.3%	121,371 mi	477
2000	72.2%	122,964 mi	325
1999	70.7%	117,000 mi	731
1998	73.3%	102,597 mi	165

Which year BMW 318i SE is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests.

Tests range from an average of 88,599 miles (newest year) to 122,964 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a BMW 318i SE.

See the buying guide →

← All BMW models

Check any UK registration — free MOT history and risk insights.