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1988 BMW M635 MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for M635 models manufactured in 1988, based on 150 real MOT test results.

72.7%
Pass Rate
27.3%
Fail Rate
150
Total Tests
111,282
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

1988 BMW M635 MOT Analysis

The 1988 BMW M635 has an MOT pass rate of 72.7% based on 150 tests — above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 111,282 miles on the odometer. With a 27.3% failure rate, the 1988 M635 is rated as "Very Good" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1988 BMW M635 is Visibility, responsible for 0.7% of failures. Visibility failures relate to the windscreen, wipers, washers, mirrors, and view-obstructing damage. Cracks in the windscreen swept area, ineffective wipers, or empty washer bottles are common causes. Typical repair costs range from £10–300. Noise, emissions and leaks is the second most common issue at 0.7%. Non-component advisories follows at 0.7%.

Top failures specific to 1988 models only. The overall M635 page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

Visibility 0.7%
Non-component advisories 0.7%

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Visibility0.7%1
2Noise, Emissions And Leaks0.7%1
3Non-component Advisories0.7%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 111,282 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Visibility0.06% per 10K miNoise, emissions and leaks0.06% per 10K miNon-component advisories0.06% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Visibility0.060.7%1
Noise, emissions and leaks0.060.7%1
Non-component advisories0.060.7%1

Mileage Statistics

111,282
Mean
133,068
Median
78,997
25th Percentile
149,201
75th Percentile
2.45% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 1988 BMW M635 has an MOT pass rate of 72.7% based on 150 tests — above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 111,282 miles on the odometer. With a 27.3% failure rate, the 1988 M635 is rated as "Very Good" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1988 BMW M635, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to visibility: Check the windscreen for chips and cracks — damage larger than 10mm in the driver's swept area or 40mm elsewhere will fail. Test washers and wipers. Ensure both door mirrors are intact and adjustable. With an average mileage of 111,282 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.

Visibility — 0.7% of failures

Visibility issues account for 0.7% of MOT failures on 1988 BMW M635 models. Visibility failures relate to the windscreen, wipers, washers, mirrors, and view-obstructing damage. Cracks in the windscreen swept area, ineffective wipers, or empty washer bottles are common causes. Typical repair costs: £10–300. Pre-MOT check: Check the windscreen for chips and cracks — damage larger than 10mm in the driver's swept area or 40mm elsewhere will fail. Test washers and wipers. Ensure both door mirrors are intact and adjustable.

Noise, emissions and leaks — 0.7% of failures

Noise, emissions and leaks issues account for 0.7% of MOT failures on 1988 BMW M635 models. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.

Non-component advisories — 0.7% of failures

Non-component advisories issues account for 0.7% of MOT failures on 1988 BMW M635 models. Non-component advisories issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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