BMW 118I SE Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 118I SE car check
Is the BMW 118I SE reliable? We analysed 331 real MOT tests across 109 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 118I SE? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 118I SE is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 118I SE.
BMW 118I SE — specs & performance
Verified from DVLA & DVSA recordsA snapshot of the engine, performance, dimensions, fuel economy and running costs for the BMW 118I SE — drawn from official DVLA vehicle records and the DVSA fuel-economy database.
Engine & Performance
- Engine size
- 1995cc
- Power
- 129 BHP
- Fuel type
- Petrol
Body & Dimensions
- Body type
- Car
- Common colour
- Blue
- Wheel plan
- 2 Axle Rigid Body
Fuel Economy
- Combined
- 38.7 mpg
- Urban
- 28.0 mpg
- Extra-urban
- 49.6 mpg
- Fuel cost / 12k mi
- £2433
Tax & Emissions
- CO2 output
- 176 g/km Band I
- Emission class
- Not Available
- Road tax (12 mo.)
- £260
- Road tax (6 mo.)
- £143
BMW 118I SE Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 118I SE. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 118I SE Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 118I SE owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 118I SE Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 118I SE MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
How Does the BMW 118I SE Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 118I SE THIS CAR | 89.1% | 331 | 56,507 mi | — yrs |
| BMW 3 Series | 75.1% | 12,840,406 | 90,743 mi | 37 yrs |
| BMW 118 | 81.5% | 1,923,256 | 64,042 mi | 22 yrs |
| BMW X5 | 77% | 1,735,343 | 83,401 mi | 25 yrs |
| Cpi Bravo | 77.2% | 425 | 4,934 mi | 14 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 118I SE outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 118I SE you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific BMW 118I SEShould you buy a used BMW 118I SE?
The BMW 118I SE has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.1% across 331 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
A typical BMW 118I SE owner drives around 6,201 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.