Petrol BMW 535: MOT pass rate
82.9% of petrol BMW 535s pass the MOT first time, measured across 1,146 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 94,300.
Petrol against the other BMW 535 versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 83.5% | 7,105 |
| Petrol | 82.9% | 1,146 |
| All BMW 535 | 83.5% | 8,262 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.
On the BMW 535 specifically, diesel is the strongest at 83.5%, and this petrol version sits 0.6 points below the 83.5% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average petrol BMW 535 had covered 94,300 miles at test, against 120,192 for the diesel. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the BMW 535 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Most common MOT failures on a petrol BMW 535
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.7% of tests (1.32x the national rate for this defect)
- A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.1% of tests (1.28x the national rate for this defect)
- A tyre seriously damaged, 3.4% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this defect)
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.6% of tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.6% of tests
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.4% of tests
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 1.8% of tests
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.8% of tests
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.7% of tests
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.7% of tests
From 1,164 DVSA-tracked petrol BMW 535 tests, 2024, split out from the BMW 535's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.87% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.
Most common MOT advisories on a petrol BMW 535
Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.
- A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 2.7% of tests (4.91x the national rate for this defect)
- Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 15.7% of tests (2.83x the national rate for this defect)
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3.2% of tests (2.55x the national rate for this defect)
- A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.8% of tests (1.69x the national rate for this defect)
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 10.1% of tests (1.64x the national rate for this defect)
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 1.7% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 24.7% of tests, also fails
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 12% of tests, also fails
- A tyre seriously damaged, 8.9% of tests, also fails
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 7.2% of tests
From 1,164 DVSA-tracked petrol BMW 535 tests, 2024.
Other BMW 535 fuel types
- Diesel BMW 535 - 83.5%