What year BMW 318i is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 1990 BMW 318i has the highest pass rate at 86.9%, out of 1,774 vehicles tested.

What are the most common BMW 318i MOT failures?

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

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BMW 318i — Reliability by Year

28,763 vehicles · MOT data 1983–1999 · first-test pass rates

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

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Best pass rate year

1990

86.9% pass rate · 1,774 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1988

50.0% pass rate · 4,722 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
1999	66.7%	83,602 mi	123
1991	—	—	440
1990	86.9%	127,414 mi	1,774
1989	58.3%	120,412 mi	3,781
1988	50.0%	129,136 mi	4,722
1987	66.7%	166,966 mi	4,211
1986	—	—	4,888
1985	—	—	4,664
1984	—	—	3,812
1983	—	—	348

Which year BMW 318i is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests. Green = noticeably above average for this model; red = noticeably below average.

Tests range from an average of 83,602 miles (newest year) to 166,966 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.

See the buying guide →

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