BMW
30,401 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where 220s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 7.8 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
85.3%
Pass-after-fix
2.8%
Fail
11.5%
Avg miles
65,010
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Some examples of this model are borderline — a small number of diesels were certified Euro 6 before September 2015. Check your registration on the government's ULEZ checker to be certain. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 · Bristol £9.00 .
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 30,392 tests
Pass rate climbs 4.3 points across the cohorts — newer 220 examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
85.1%
Fail
11.7%
PRS
2.9%
Avg mileage at test
66,184 mi
Pass
89.4%
Fail
8.2%
PRS
2.1%
Avg mileage at test
40,349 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
The BMW 220 is a diesel-powered car sold in the UK market across multiple generations, covering a broad date range in the test population.
MOT data from 17,118 tests puts this car on a 84.6% first-time pass rate, above the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 56,986 miles. The most common fail item is tyre tread below the legal limit, followed by cracked or discoloured windscreen.
For used buyers, the 220's pass rate suggests it clears the MOT with fewer surprises than most — but the top failure items above are still worth a pre-purchase inspection, particularly on higher-mileage examples.
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 →
24–36
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Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
511 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
419 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
407 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
397 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
356 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
296 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
230 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
177 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Wiper blade defective
163 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
161 occurrences · 0.5% 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.
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Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 4.3-point gap between bands means the year you buy BMW 220 has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
89.4%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 89.4% — a 4.3-point improvement. Tests in this band average 40,349 miles — roughly 26K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.
Band to be cautious about
85.1%
Pre-2018 registration
On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 85.1% pass rate against a fleet average of 89.4% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has a serious fluid leak, and tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Average mileage on test for this band is 66,184 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (89.4% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (85.1% pass). That's a 4.3-point spread across 29,026 older tests and 1,366 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 220 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.
