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. The BMW 635 sits 1.7 points above the national average, ranked 1,506 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 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 recorded closing bids for damaged BMW 635s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 635

  1. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.3% of tests (1.98x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.4% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.3% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 2% of tests (1.65x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this defect)
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.8% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
  7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.6% of tests
  8. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.1% of tests
  9. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 1.8% of tests
  10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.8% of tests

From 1,926 DVSA-tracked BMW 635 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.67% of these flagged BMW 635 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 635

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 635 before it actually fails on it.

  1. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 3.4% of tests (2.57x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 1.4% of tests (2.5x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 13.1% of tests (2.35x the national rate for this advisory)
  4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 25.1% of tests (1.88x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 27.9% of tests, also fails
  6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 13.2% of tests
  7. A tyre seriously damaged, 9.3% of tests, also fails
  8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 4.9% of tests
  9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.6% of tests
  10. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.8% of tests

From 1,926 DVSA-tracked BMW 635 tests, 2024.

BMW 635 pass rate by model year

From its 2008 to its 2010 model year, the BMW 635's first-time pass rate has risen 1.5 points, from 78.2% to 79.7%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 635 year:

BMW 635 by fuel type

The BMW 635's two most-tested fuel types split by 5.2 points: diesel passes first time 78.1% of the time (1,509 tests) against 83.3% for petrol (401 tests).

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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BMW 635 most common MOT failure: A tyre cords visible or damaged (3.3% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate