Used car guide

2019 BMW 218I SE: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2019 BMW 218I SEs, from 1,155 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,155MOT tests in 2025
83%pass first time (all 2019 cars: 84%)
7,600typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2019 BMW 218I SEs than on all cars registered in 2019.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.7× usual
    BMW 218I SE
    6% All 2019 cars
    2.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.3% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Headlights2.8× usual
    BMW 218I SE
    2.8% All 2019 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 0.9% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

By area

The share of 2019 BMW 218I SE MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    33% of testsRough price £70–£150

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

  • Brakes
    15% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    9% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    7% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    6% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    3% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2018503Tyres 31%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2019 BMW 218I SEs registered in 2019. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score