Used car guide · 2014–2022

BMW 218d common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used BMW 218d, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 67,309 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

67,309MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
2known faults across all years
2015best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202220212020201920182017201620152014

What usually goes wrong with a BMW 218d?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Blocked particulate filter (diesel)

    Cars registered 2014–2021 · Diesel

    Diesels mostly used for short trips can block their particulate filter.

    At the viewing: Ask how the car was used, and watch for a DPF warning.

    Source: What Car?: used BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (2014-2021) reliability

  • Trim and electrical faults

    Cars registered 2014–2021 · All engines

    Interior trim was the most common complaint in What Car?'s survey, then electrics and infotainment. On the Active Tourer the boot floor panel can come loose and its plastic flaps break.

    At the viewing: Check the boot floor and test the screen and electrics.

    Source: What Car?: used BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (2014-2021) reliability

Common BMW 218d MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Engine warning light

    up to 3.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014 and 2019.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Wheels

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2018 and 2019.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

BMW 218d MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2015 BMW 218d did best (79% passed first time, 5 points above all 2015 cars) and the 2021 did worst (88%, 1 point above all 2021 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202292%89% +3827
202188%87% +11,323
202088%87% +11,929
201986%85% +14,927
201884%83% +19,042
201783%80% +312,845
201680%77% +316,248
201579%74% +514,781
201474%70% +45,387

Questions to ask the seller before buying a BMW 218d

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the engine warning light? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the BMW 218d as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wheels? (Flagged at MOT 3.1× as often on the BMW 218d as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a BMW 218d?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score