BMW 435i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 435i recorded a 88.2% MOT pass rate across 12,107 tests in this dataset (model years 2013–2025), with tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension its most common failure areas.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 502 | 86.9% | 13.2% |
| 2014 | 5,078 | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| 2015 | 5,432 | 88.6% | 11.4% |
| 2016 | 1,085 | 89.6% | 10.4% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.0% | 844 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 330 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.6% | 197 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 165 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 153 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.3% | 151 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 79 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.4% | 50 |
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 | 214 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 163 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 153 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 152 |
| 5 | Washers | 107 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 96 |
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 | 19.8% | 2,393 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 1,507 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.7% | 1,175 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 544 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.4% | 536 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 370 |
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 | 1,454 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 5,403 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 3,848 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,131 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 215 | 15.8% |
| 150k+ | 55 | 23.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,419 | 10.0% |
| 2022 | 2,441 | 11.0% |
| 2023 | 2,444 | 12.9% |
| 2024 | 2,415 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 2,388 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a BMW 435i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (7.0% 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 (2.7% 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 435i at MOT time?
88.2% of the 12,107 BMW 435i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate, in line with the 11.8% average across all 4 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 435i?
Tyres, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.7%).
Does the 435i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,107 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.