Bmw 318 ti vs Bmw 520: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Bmw 318 ti
80%
MOT pass rate · 333 vehicles
Bmw 520
78%
MOT pass rate · 156,398 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Bmw 318 ti (80%) and Bmw 520 (78%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Bmw 318 ti | Bmw 520 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 80% ✓ | 78% |
| MOT failure rate | 20% ✓ | 22% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.5 ✓ | 1.6 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 3% |
| Average mileage | 114,535 mi | 134,460 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 333 | 156,398 |
Most common faults
Bmw 318 ti
- Front Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting damaged but its strength is not seriously reduced (5.3.3 (b) (i))
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
- Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
- Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
- Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)
Bmw 520
- 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)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Bmw 318 ti (80%) and Bmw 520 (78%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Bmw 318 ti report Full Bmw 520 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.