BMW
11,809 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where 335s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 11.9 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
89.4%
Pass-after-fix
1.5%
Fail
8.6%
Avg miles
68,220
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Some examples of this model are borderline — a small number of diesels were certified Euro 6 before September 2015. Check your registration on the government's ULEZ checker to be certain. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 · Bristol £9.00 .
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 11,806 tests
Pass rate climbs 3.9 points across the cohorts — newer 335 examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
89.2%
Fail
8.8%
PRS
1.5%
Avg mileage at test
69,207 mi
Pass
93.1%
Fail
5.4%
PRS
1.5%
Avg mileage at test
51,374 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 5,334 MOT tests, the 335 returns 88.2% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. A seriously damaged tyre and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 59,887, 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
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 →
36–46
out of 50
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Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
243 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
144 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
139 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
114 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
108 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
89 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
74 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
53 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel
52 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
51 occurrences · 0.4% 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 2 failures
£120–£190
If every one of this 335'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 →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 3.9-point gap between bands means the year you buy BMW 335 has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
93.1%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 93.1% — a 3.9-point improvement. Tests in this band average 51,374 miles — roughly 18K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has a cut in excess of the… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.
Band to be cautious about
89.2%
Pre-2018 registration
On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 89.2% pass rate against a fleet average of 93.1% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has ply or cords exposed, and has a cut in excess of the…. Average mileage on test for this band is 69,207 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (93.1% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (89.2% pass). That's a 3.9-point spread across 11,157 older tests and 649 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
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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 335 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.
