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1992 BMW 318i Touring MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for 318i Touring models manufactured in 1992, based on 36 real MOT test results.

41.7%
Pass Rate
58.3%
Fail Rate
36
Total Tests
155,740
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

1992 BMW 318i Touring MOT Analysis

The 1992 BMW 318i Touring has an MOT pass rate of 41.7% based on 36 tests — significantly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 155,740 miles on the odometer. With a 58.3% failure rate, the 1992 318i Touring is rated as "Very Poor" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1992 BMW 318i Touring is Suspension, responsible for 25.0% of failures. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs range from £200–500. Brakes is the second most common issue at 13.9%. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions follows at 11.1%.

⚠ Based on limited data (36 tests)

Top failures specific to 1992 models only. The overall 318i Touring page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Suspension25.0%9
2Brakes13.9%5
3Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions11.1%4

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 155,740 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Suspension1.61% per 10K miBrakes0.89% per 10K miEmissions & Exhaust0.71% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Suspension1.6125.0%9
Brakes0.8913.9%5
Emissions & Exhaust0.7111.1%4

Mileage Statistics

155,740
Mean
164,595
Median
147,673
25th Percentile
177,067
75th Percentile
3.74% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 1992 BMW 318i Touring has an MOT pass rate of 41.7% based on 36 tests — significantly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 155,740 miles on the odometer. With a 58.3% failure rate, the 1992 318i Touring is rated as "Very Poor" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1992 BMW 318i Touring, be prepared for above-average maintenance costs. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to suspension: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks. With an average mileage of 155,740 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.

Suspension — 25.0% of failures

Suspension issues account for 25.0% of MOT failures on 1992 BMW 318i Touring models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.

Brakes — 13.9% of failures

Brakes issues account for 13.9% of MOT failures on 1992 BMW 318i Touring models. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 11.1% of failures

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions issues account for 11.1% of MOT failures on 1992 BMW 318i Touring models. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.

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

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