BMW 645: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 645 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 0.1 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,592 individual BMW 645 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate76.6%
UK national average76.7%
Difference-0.1 points
Tests analysed1,592
Average mileage at test103,930 miles
Average year of manufacture2004
Reliability rank1,568 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 76.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 23 in every 100 BMW 645s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average BMW 645 tested had covered 103,930 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 645 sits 0.1 points below the national average, ranked 1,568 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

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 645 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 645s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 645

  1. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 2.4% of tests (5.75x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 2.6% of tests (2.47x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.3% of tests (2.32x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 4.5% of tests (1.96x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.5% of tests (1.96x the national rate for this defect)
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 7.7% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this defect)
  7. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.3% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.8% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
  9. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 1.6% of tests (1.28x the national rate for this defect)
  10. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.8% of tests

From 1,593 DVSA-tracked BMW 645 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.83% of these flagged BMW 645 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 645

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 645 before it actually fails on it.

  1. emits excessive dense blue or clearly visible black smoke during acceleration which would obscure the view of other road users, 1.3% of tests (27.47x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 29.1% of tests (5.24x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 25.2% of tests (4.07x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 29.8% of tests (2.23x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  5. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.2% of tests (1.65x the national rate for this advisory)
  6. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.4% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this advisory)
  7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 26.9% of tests
  8. A tyre seriously damaged, 14.3% of tests, also fails
  9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 12.9% of tests
  10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 6.1% of tests

From 1,593 DVSA-tracked BMW 645 tests, 2024.

BMW 645 pass rate by model year

From its 2004 to its 2005 model year, the BMW 645's first-time pass rate has risen 2.6 points, from 76.6% to 79.2%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 645 year:

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 645 MOT pass rate badge: 76.6%

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BMW 645 most common MOT failure: An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction (2.4% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate