BMW 335d — MOT pass rate & failures
25,887 MOT tests on the BMW 335d (2006–2020) give a 90.1% pass rate. That is 7.5 percentage points better than the 17.4% fail rate across all BMW 3 Series versions, so the 335d is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — tread depth alone was recorded 445 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.0% versus 6.9%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 78 | 76.9% | 23.1% |
| 2013 | 38 | 86.8% | 13.2% |
| 2014 | 79 | 83.5% | 16.5% |
| 2015 | 295 | 87.1% | 12.9% |
| 2016 | 6,113 | 90.0% | 10.0% |
| 2017 | 16,820 | 90.0% | 10.0% |
| 2018 | 2,066 | 92.1% | 7.9% |
| 2019 | 299 | 92.0% | 8.0% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.0% | 1,545 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 458 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.6% | 416 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 353 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.0% | 263 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 206 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.4% | 107 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 68 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 445 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 361 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 251 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 196 |
| 5 | Washers | 190 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 175 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 17.3% | 4,490 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 2,885 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.4% | 1,646 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.7% | 1,464 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 841 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 413 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 2,816 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 11,808 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 8,081 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,507 | 11.7% |
| 120-150k | 498 | 12.8% |
| 150k+ | 177 | 17.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,162 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 5,217 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 5,175 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 5,191 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 5,142 | 11.7% |
What to check before buying a BMW 335d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (6.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How reliable is the BMW 335d at MOT time?
90.1% of the 25,887 BMW 335d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate, better than the 17.4% average across all 3 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 335d?
Tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).
Does the 335d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 17.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,887 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.