Bmw 218 active tourer vs Bmw 3 series: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Bmw 218 active tourer
78%
MOT pass rate · 1 vehicles
Bmw 3 series
75%
MOT pass rate · 996,044 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Bmw 218 active tourer (78%) and Bmw 3 series (75%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Bmw 218 active tourer | Bmw 3 series |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% ✓ | 75% |
| MOT failure rate | 22% ✓ | 25% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.8 | 2.0 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 2% |
| Average mileage | — | 128,558 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 1 | 996,044 |
Most common faults
Bmw 218 active tourer
- Front Windscreen wiper blade defective Front wipers smearing slightly (3.4 (b) (i))
- Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Brake reaction bush slight perishing (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material N/s/r corrosion near inner union (1.1.11 (c))
- Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Sidewall perish (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Brake reaction bush slight perishing (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material O/s/r corrosion near inner union (1.1.11 (c))
Bmw 3 series
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Bmw 218 active tourer (78%) and Bmw 3 series (75%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Bmw 218 active tourer report Full Bmw 3 series report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.