BMW
3,750 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where 220d M Sport Autos pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 12.7 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
90.2%
Pass-after-fix
1.0%
Fail
8.4%
Avg miles
36,263
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 · 3,750 tests
Pass rate climbs 2.2 points across the cohorts — newer 220d M Sport Auto examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
89.3%
Fail
8.9%
PRS
1.4%
Avg mileage at test
38,864 mi
Pass
91.5%
Fail
7.8%
PRS
0.5%
Avg mileage at test
32,582 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 1,210 MOT tests, the 220d M Sport Auto returns 88.7% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. Tyre tread under the limit and a tyre with the cords showing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 29,871, 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
67 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
60 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
27 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
23 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
21 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
20 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Wiper blade defective
19 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
14 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
12 occurrences · 0.3% 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
10 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 220d 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 2.2-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy BMW 220d M Sport Auto makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
91.5%
2021+ registration
the 2021-on band climbs to 91.5% — a 2.2-point improvement. Tests in this band average 32,582 miles — roughly 6K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: has a cut in excess of the…, 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. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.
Band to be cautious about
89.3%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 89.3% pass rate against a fleet average of 91.5% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, has a cut in excess of the…, and inoperative or indicates a malfunction. Average mileage on test for this band is 38,864 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2021+ (91.5% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (89.3% pass). That's a 2.2-point spread across 2,199 older tests and 1,551 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 220d 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.
