The picture
318: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 10,120 MOT tests, the 318 returns 86.2% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. Brake pads worn below 1.5 mm and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 55,154, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
357 occurrences · 3.5% of tests
- 02
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
224 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 03
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
194 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 04
A tyre seriously damaged
158 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 05
A tyre cords visible or damaged
103 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 06
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
95 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 07
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
87 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 08
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
78 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 09
Wiper blade defective
76 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 10
A tyre seriously damaged
49 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£200–£350
If every one of this 318's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a 318?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 318 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.