1997 BMW 318 I — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

51.5%

Latest Pass Rate

1,354

Total Tests (All Years)

137,784 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 17

This car: 51.5%

Average: 53.5%

⚠️ 2.0% below average (9249 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 BMW 318 I as it ages.

12 yrs40.1%

→ ↑0.6%

13 yrs40.7%

→ ↓1.2%

14 yrs39.5%

→ ↑3.8%

15 yrs43.3%

→ ↓3.1%

16 yrs40.2%

→ ↑11.3%

17 yrs51.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	40.1%	544
13 yrs	40.7%	290
14 yrs	39.5%	228
15 yrs	43.3%	157
16 yrs	40.2%	102
17 yrs	51.5%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 BMW 318 I pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2014 (17 yrs)	51.5%	33
2013 (16 yrs)	40.2%	102
2012 (15 yrs)	43.3%	157
2011 (14 yrs)	39.5%	228
2010 (13 yrs)	40.7%	290
2009 (12 yrs)	40.1%	544

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

40.1%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 544Avg Mileage 126,764Top Failure Brakes — 43.2%

2010High Fail Rate

40.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 290Avg Mileage 126,702Top Failure Brakes — 42.1%

2011High Fail Rate

39.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 228Avg Mileage 132,309Top Failure Brakes — 46.1%

2012High Fail Rate

43.3%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 157Avg Mileage 141,201Top Failure Suspension — 38.2%

2013High Fail Rate

40.2%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 102Avg Mileage 131,328Top Failure Brakes — 124.5%

2014High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 33Avg Mileage 137,784Top Failure Brakes — 115.2%

MOT results for 1997 BMW 318 I by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	40.1%	544	126,764	Brakes — 43.2%
2010	13	40.7%	290	126,702	Brakes — 42.1%
2011	14	39.5%	228	132,309	Brakes — 46.1%
2012	15	43.3%	157	141,201	Suspension — 38.2%
2013	16	40.2%	102	131,328	Brakes — 124.5%
2014	17	51.5%	33	137,784	Brakes — 115.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 BMW 318 I, with age trends.

Brakes

68.2%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

49.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

41.5%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

23.3%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

19.1%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	43.2% (12 yrs)	115.2% (17 yrs)	+72.0%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	33.5% (12 yrs)	57.6% (17 yrs)	+24.1%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	33.8% (12 yrs)	54.5% (17 yrs)	+20.7%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	19.3% (12 yrs)	18.2% (17 yrs)	-1.1%	⚪ —
Tyres	21.5% (12 yrs)	21.2% (17 yrs)	-0.3%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

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About This Data

This page shows how BMW 318 I cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2014, covering 1,354 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.