BMW 135: MOT pass rate and reliability data
The BMW 135 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 7.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,129 individual BMW 135 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.
The numbers
| First-time pass rate | 84.4% |
| UK national average | 76.7% |
| Difference | +7.7 points |
| Tests analysed | 1,129 |
| Average mileage at test | 79,060 miles |
| Average year of manufacture | 2010 |
| Reliability rank | 1,279 of 2,005 models |
What this means if you are buying one
A 84.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 16 in every 100 BMW 135s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW 135 tested had covered 79,060 miles and was built around 2010.
What this means at salvage auction
Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a BMW 135 bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.
Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.
Looking at a specific BMW 135 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged BMW 135s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.
Most common MOT failures on a BMW 135
- Emissions levels exceed default limits, 1.3% of tests (4.56x the national rate for this defect)
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 0.7% of tests (3.31x the national rate for this defect)
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.3% of tests (1.8x the national rate for this defect)
- A tyre seriously damaged, 1.3% of tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.2% of tests
- A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.1% of tests
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.8% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.7% of tests
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.6% of tests
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 0.6% of tests
From 2,476 DVSA-tracked BMW 135 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.76% of these flagged BMW 135 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.
Other BMW models
- BMW 3 Series - 76.8%
- BMW 118 - 81.9%
- BMW 116 - 78.6%
- BMW X1 - 85.2%
- BMW X3 - 82.3%
- BMW X5 - 81.2%
- BMW 1 Series - 81.6%
- BMW 520 - 80.2%
Models with a similar pass rate
- Mercedes-Benz 500 - 84.5%
- Volkswagen Up - 84.4%
- BMW X6 - 84.4%
- Hyundai Tucson N Lne 48v Mhev Crdi 2wd - 84.4%
- Vauxhall Crossland Elite Nav - 84.4%
- Toyota Rav4 - 84.3%
If this car is a salvage or write-off
- What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
- What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
- Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
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