BMW
1,476 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where 218d M Sport Autos pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 10.8 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
88.3%
Pass-after-fix
3.0%
Fail
8.1%
Avg miles
36,688
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Diesel cars registered from September 2015 generally meet Euro 6 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 1,474 tests
Pass rate climbs 7.3 points across the cohorts — newer 218d M Sport Auto examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
85.6%
Fail
10.2%
PRS
3.8%
Avg mileage at test
39,271 mi
Pass
92.9%
Fail
4.7%
PRS
1.6%
Avg mileage at test
32,140 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 580 MOT tests, the 218d M Sport Auto returns 85.7% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. A tyre with the cords showing and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 32,078, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
26–44
out of 50
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A tyre seriously damaged
30 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
23 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
21 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
14 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber
8 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
7 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
7 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Wiper blade defective
6 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
6 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
5 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£120–£190
If every one of this 218d M Sport Auto's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 7.3-point gap between bands means the year you buy BMW 218d M Sport Auto has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
92.9%
2021+ registration
the 2021-on band climbs to 92.9% — a 7.3-point improvement. Tests in this band average 32,140 miles — roughly 7K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has a cut in excess of the… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.
Band to be cautious about
85.6%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 85.6% pass rate against a fleet average of 92.9% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: has a cut in excess of the…, tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view. Average mileage on test for this band is 39,271 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2021+ (92.9% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (85.6% pass). That's a 7.3-point spread across 924 older tests and 550 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
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Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 218d M Sport Auto and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
