Used car guide

2018 BMW M2: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the BMW M2 first registered in 2018: we looked at the 4,149 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,149MOTs of 2018 cars, done in 2023–2025
88%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 83%)
6,200typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for coil springs

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2018 BMW M2?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2018 BMW M2 than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Coil springs3.3× usual
    BMW M2
    3.6% All 2018 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 0.9% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

Better than most

Brake pads: 1.5% here, against 10.9% of all 2018 cars. Brake discs: 3.4% here, against 9.8% of all 2018 cars.

Common 2018 BMW M2 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2018 BMW M2 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    19% 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.

  • Suspension
    5% 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.

  • Brakes
    5% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    2% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    1% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2018 BMW M2

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2018 BMW M2 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a BMW M2?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the BMW M2 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022–Too few tests
2021–Too few tests
2020599Tyres 14%
2019761Tyres 18%
20173,561Tyres 19%
20162,108Tyres 19%
2015–Too few tests
2014–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of BMW M2 cars first registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score