Bmw 518
Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 9 years from 3,951 real MOT tests.
Avg Pass Rate
78%
Total Tests
3,951
Best Year
2015 (90%)
Years Covered
9
About the Bmw 518
The Bmw 518 has been tested 3,951 times in 2026 MOT data across 9 model years (1990 to 2017), with an average pass rate of 78%. That's close to the national average of 82%. Available as diesel and petrol.
Best and Worst Years
The 2015 model is the most reliable with a 90% pass rate from 1,003 tests. The 1992 model has the lowest at 65%. With a 25 point spread, choosing the right year makes a big difference to reliability.
Reliability Trend
Newer BMW 518s show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 14 percentage points.
Mileage Across Years
The oldest model in our data (1990) averages 88,970 miles, while the newest (2017) averages 93,782 miles.
Compared to the Bmw brand average of 88%, the 518 is 10 points lower, placing it among the less reliable Bmw models.
Estimated Running Costs
Based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT pass rate data. Insurance not included.
Full 2017 detailsHow reliable is the Bmw 518?
Bmw 518 by Year
Click any year to see detailed running costs, reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.
Bmw 518 Guides & Articles
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