2008 BMW 635 MOT pass rate: 78.4% (1,501 tests)
Is the 2008 635 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2008-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 75.9% +10.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 78.4% +13.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 81.5% +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 2008 635
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 240 | 31.6% |
| 2 | Tyres | 168 | 22.1% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 95 | 12.5% |
| 4 | Brakes | 88 | 11.6% |
| 5 | Visibility | 42 | 5.5% |
| 6 | Steering | 39 | 5.1% |
All 635 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 (this page) | 1,501 | 78.4% | +13.3 pts | 126,382 |
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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FAQs
Is a 2008 BMW 635 reliable?
2008-registered examples passed 78.4% of their MOT tests (1,501 tests, 2023–2025), +13.3 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 18 years old with a median 126,382 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2008 635?
The median tested example shows 126,382 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.