BMW 435d — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 435d recorded a 88.4% MOT pass rate across 59,806 tests in this dataset (model years 2013–2021), with tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension its most common failure areas.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 371 | 87.6% | 12.4% |
| 2014 | 5,629 | 86.5% | 13.6% |
| 2015 | 15,847 | 87.4% | 12.6% |
| 2016 | 14,915 | 88.7% | 11.3% |
| 2017 | 11,662 | 89.4% | 10.6% |
| 2018 | 7,664 | 89.4% | 10.6% |
| 2019 | 3,020 | 89.1% | 10.9% |
| 2020 | 688 | 88.9% | 11.1% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.2% | 4,303 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 1,280 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.8% | 1,081 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.7% | 990 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.2% | 743 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 533 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.5% | 315 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 212 |
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 | 977 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 844 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 610 |
| 4 | Washers | 556 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 542 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 524 |
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 | 18.6% | 11,141 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.0% | 7,798 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 3,263 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.5% | 3,265 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 1,755 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 998 |
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 | 7,294 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 23,727 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 19,068 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 7,433 | 15.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,827 | 17.0% |
| 150k+ | 453 | 17.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,567 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 12,064 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 12,190 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 12,084 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 11,901 | 13.3% |
What to check before buying a BMW 435d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (7.2% 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 (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.8% 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 435d at MOT time?
88.4% of the 59,806 BMW 435d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate, in line with the 11.8% average across all 4 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 435d?
Tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.1%).
Does the 435d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 17.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 59,806 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-06. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.