BMW 218i SE Reliability
The BMW 218i SE (current generation) scores 73/100 on our composite reliability index — good territory — drawn from DVSA data.
Reliability by Source
Each independent organization measures reliability differently. TÜV reports inspection defect rates by age band. ADAC reports pan-European breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles. NHTSA aggregates US consumer complaints. DVSA MOT data is the UK fleet's annual safety inspection — every car 3+ years old. Lower variance across sources = higher confidence in the composite.
UK MOT Reliability Detail
Based on 1,949 MOT tests in the UK during the 2023reporting period. Score for each age band reflects this model's fail rate vs the UK-fleet baseline fail rate at the same age — a generation-aware metric.
Most Common MOT Failure Categories
Categories ranked across all MOT tests of this model in the UK during the 2023period. "Condition" covers cosmetic / wear issues; suspension and braking dominate the rest.
Compare Against Alternatives
See how the BMW 218i SE stacks up against direct rivals — same segment, similar price band, side-by-side risk + reliability.
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