BMW 335: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 335 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 10.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 4,872 individual BMW 335 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 87.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 13 in every 100 BMW 335s 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 335 tested had covered 68,259 miles and was built around 2017.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 335 sits 10.8 points above the national average, ranked 1,052 of 2,005 models. On one bought as 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 335 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 recorded closing bids for damaged BMW 335s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 335

1. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.8% of tests (13.34x the national rate for this defect)
2. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.5% of tests (2.91x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber, 0.4% of tests (2.24x the national rate for this defect)
4. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.4% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this defect)
5. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.5% of tests (1.54x the national rate for this defect)
6. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.6% of tests (1.53x the national rate for this defect)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.8% of tests
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.5% of tests
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.7% of tests
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.7% of tests

From 4,840 DVSA-tracked BMW 335 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 9.52% of these flagged BMW 335 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 335

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a BMW 335 before it actually fails on it.

1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 27.2% of tests, also fails
2. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 7.8% of tests, also fails
3. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 7.2% of tests
4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 5.4% of tests, also fails
5. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.6% of tests, also fails
6. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4.4% of tests, also fails
7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 1.8% of tests
8. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.6% of tests
9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.7% of tests
10. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.6% of tests

From 4,840 DVSA-tracked BMW 335 tests, 2024.

BMW 335 pass rate by model year

From its 2016 to its 2018 model year, the BMW 335's first-time pass rate has risen 1.7 points, from 89.1% to 90.8%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 335 year:

• 2016 BMW 335 - 89.1% first-time pass, 1,114 tests
• 2017 BMW 335 - 87.3% first-time pass, 3,003 tests
• 2018 BMW 335 - 90.8% first-time pass, 381 tests

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

• Volvo Xc90 Rdesgn Pro T8 Rchrg Awd A - 87.6%
• BMW X7 Xdrive40d M Sport Mhev Auto - 87.6%
• BMW M3 - 87.5%
• Honda Fit - 87.5%
• Ford Focus St - 87.5%
• Peugeot 2008 GT Ev - 87.5%

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
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

Run a site about the BMW 335? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-335"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/bmw-335.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="BMW 335 MOT Pass Rate: 87.5% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

Run a garage or parts site? Embed the BMW 335's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-335"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/bmw-335.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="BMW 335 most common MOT failure: Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (0.8% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate