BMW
135
2,774 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where 135s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 8.2 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
85.7%
Pass-after-fix
3.2%
Fail
10.1%
Avg miles
79,959
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
135: above-average pass rates, with caveats
Across 1,297 MOT tests, the 135 returns 81.7% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. Tyre tread under the limit and a tyre with the cords showing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 78,055, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 32–42
A high-group car — insurance costs will be significantly above average. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
32–42
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
78 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 02
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
28 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 03
A tyre cords visible or damaged
25 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 04
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
23 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 05
Wiper blade defective
16 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 06
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
16 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 07
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
15 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 08
A tyre seriously damaged
15 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 09
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
14 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 10
Emissions levels exceed default limits
13 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£140–£235
If every one of this 135's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Summit
Summit ADRG-640 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£10.99
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Summit
Summit ADRG-904 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
£10.99
View at My Motor World →
Summit
Summit ADRG-905 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£10.99
View at My Motor World →
Draper Expert
Draper Expert Oil Filter Socket for Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and VW
£18.69
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Buying or keeping a 135?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 135 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.