BMW 318I SE Auto (2021)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 106 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£2,236

£186/month

MOT Pass Rate

87%

Good

Road Tax

£200

Standard rate/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 18-32

1998cc Petrol

Solid Option

87% pass rate, £2,236/year to run. 5 points above average.

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Petrol1998cc5 years old106 tests30k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1998cc)

~36 mpg

£1,631

Road Tax

Standard rate (from April 2017)

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

£350

Total per year£2,236

Per month£186/mo

Per week£43/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included. Cars registered from April 2017 pay the £200 standard rate, plus £440 a year for five years (from the second year) if they cost over £40,000 new (over £50,000 for electric cars).

Reliability Verdict

87% MOT pass rate(Good)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Good reliability. Occasional issues but generally solid. That's close to the average of 82% across all models in our data.

87% of MOT tests on BMW 318I SE Autos from 2021 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 3 years old. That's based on 106 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 30,236 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 models2958th of 3,336(bottom 12%)

Rank among BMW models1032nd of 1,548(bottom half)

vs average of all models+5%(82% avg)

vs 2021 models average-5%(92% avg)

vs BMW average-1%(88% avg)

Mileage Analysis

30,236

Average miles

22,200

Expected for age

The average 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto had 30,236 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is above the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car. Higher-mileage cars often have more motorway miles, which is generally less harmful than stop-start urban driving.

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BMW 318I SE Auto by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	87%	106	30,236 mi
2020	84%	38	35,759 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Volkswagen Golf

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

+5%

Nissan Qashqai

2020 · 1598cc Petrol

£1,853/year

93%

+6%

MINI Cooper

2019 · 1499cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

+5%

Hyundai Tucson

2019 · 1591cc Petrol

£1,853/year

90%

+3%

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About the 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto

The 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto is a premium car. Our records list a 1998cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 106 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a rare model on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 12% of 2021 models for MOT pass rate.

With an average of 30,236 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, BMW 318I SE Auto owners cover more miles than the average driver.

2021 BMW 318I SE Auto Fuel Costs

The 1998cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 36 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,631 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,236 (£186/month), broken down as £1,631 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT, and £350 predicted repairs. Repair costs are moderate, reflecting the 87% pass rate. Keeping on top of servicing will help avoid surprises.

Buying a Used 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto

At 5 years old, the BMW 318I SE Auto offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
BMW 318I SE Auto(2021)	87%	£1,631	£200	Grp 18-32	£2,236
Volkswagen Golf(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£383
Nissan Qashqai(2020)	93%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£383
MINI Cooper(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£383
Hyundai Tucson(2019)	90%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£383

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto

Is the 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto reliable?

Good reliability. Occasional issues but generally solid. 87% of MOT tests on 2021 BMW 318I SE Autos ended in a pass, from 106 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 5 points above the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto cost to run?

Our estimate is £2,236 a year (£186 a month): £1,631 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT and £350 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto?

87% of 106 MOT tests on the 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 2958th of 3,336 models first registered in 2021 (bottom 12%).

What is the average mileage for a 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2021 BMW 318I SE Auto is 30,236 miles, which is above the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car. Higher-mileage cars often have more motorway miles, which is generally less harmful than stop-start urban driving.