2020 Bmw M135I Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,557 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Bmw M135I Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 91.6% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 16.0% in the 60-90k group versus 7.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 672 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.1% | 133 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 89 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 85 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 73 |
| 6 | 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 | 234 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 143 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 74 |
| 4 | Wipers | 74 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 72 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 67 |
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 | 18.4% | 2,127 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.4% | 1,083 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.8% | 437 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 249 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 64 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 64 |
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 | 6,485 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 4,684 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 357 | 16.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 289 | 4.5% |
| 2023 | 3,811 | 8.0% |
| 2024 | 3,718 | 8.2% |
| 2025 | 3,739 | 9.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 M135I Auto
Before buying a 2020 Bmw M135I Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.8% 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.
- Brakes (1.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (0.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 many 2020 Bmw M135I Autos pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 11,557 2020 Bmw M135I Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Bmw M135I Auto?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by brakes (1.1%).
Does the 2020 M135I Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,557 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.