BMW 635: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 635 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 1.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,929 individual BMW 635 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate78.4%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+1.7 points
Tests analysed1,929
Average mileage at test122,913 miles
Average year of manufacture2004
Reliability rank1,506 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 78.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 22 in every 100 BMW 635s 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 635 tested had covered 122,913 miles and was built around 2004.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a BMW 635 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 635 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 635s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 635

  1. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 1.7% of tests (1.88x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 1.6% of tests (1.71x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.2% of tests (1.6x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.9% of tests (1.6x the national rate for this defect)
  5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 4.6% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.2% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)
  7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.5% of tests
  8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.4% of tests
  9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.3% of tests
  10. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.2% of tests

From 4,325 DVSA-tracked BMW 635 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.03% of these flagged BMW 635 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW 635 pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each BMW 635 year:

BMW 635 by fuel type

Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number:

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 635 MOT pass rate badge: 78.4%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate