2006 BMW 535 MOT pass rate: 79.5% (1,974 tests)
Is the 2006 535 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2006-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 78.6% +14.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 79.1% +15.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 81.3% +16.3 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2006 535
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 284 | 25.5% |
| 2 | Brakes | 235 | 21.1% |
| 3 | Tyres | 178 | 16.0% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 156 | 14.0% |
| 5 | Steering | 79 | 7.1% |
| 6 | Visibility | 47 | 4.2% |
All 535 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2,014 | 78.7% | +14.2 pts | 157,804 |
| 2006 (this page) | 1,974 | 79.5% | +15.1 pts | 156,961 |
| 2007 | 2,075 | 79.8% | +14.7 pts | 153,250 |
| 2011 | 1,561 | 84.1% | +14.9 pts | 111,976 |
| 2014 | 2,630 | 87.1% | +11.2 pts | 92,226 |
| 2015 | 3,791 | 87.8% | +9.1 pts | 80,910 |
| 2016 | 3,393 | 88.4% | +7.0 pts | 72,429 |
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FAQs
Is a 2006 BMW 535 reliable?
2006-registered examples passed 79.5% of their MOT tests (1,974 tests, 2023–2025), +15.1 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 20 years old with a median 156,961 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2006 535?
The median tested example shows 156,961 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.