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BMW 628 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free BMW 628 car check

Is the BMW 628 reliable? We analysed 1,371 real MOT tests across 192 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,371 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
67.8%
Typical Mileage
104,341mi
Annual Mileage
628mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
45yrs

The BMW 628 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake pipe excessively corroded and subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 628.

BMW 628 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a BMW 628. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

BMW 628 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a BMW 628 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

66.3%
1986
69.6%
1985
63.5%
1984
71.8%
1983
65.8%
1982
68.2%
1981

BMW 628 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a BMW 628 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 118
Brake pipe excessively corroded 90
Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 75
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 73
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 48
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 46
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 45
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 44
Headlamp aim too high 42
brake binding 36

BMW 628 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical BMW 628 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
157 mi/yr
Typical
628 mi/yr
Average
1,670 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,754 mi/yr

BMW 628 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 628 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1986 380 66.3% 94,100 130,137 158,534
1985 286 69.6% 76,042 97,061 119,474
1984 219 63.5% 63,432 106,573 125,163
1983 142 71.8% 87,836 106,945 119,079
1982 149 65.8% 80,007 102,011 126,474
1981 107 68.2% 77,562 118,385 146,691

How Long Does a BMW 628 Last?

Based on 192 BMW 628 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
29.5 years
Median
28.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
45 years

BMW 628 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all BMW 628 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
104,341 mi
75th Percentile
137,018 mi
95th Percentile
195,822 mi
Max Recorded
452,602 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 628

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1983

71.8% MOT pass rate from 142 tests

Year to avoid
1984

63.5% MOT pass rate from 219 tests

The best year to buy a used BMW 628 is 1983, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 71.8% across 142 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the BMW 628 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
BMW 628 THIS CAR 67.8% 1,371 104,341 mi 45 yrs
BMW 3 Series 75.1% 12,840,406 90,743 mi 37 yrs
BMW 118 81.5% 1,923,256 64,042 mi 22 yrs
BMW X5 77% 1,735,343 83,401 mi 25 yrs
Opel Ascona 76.4% 551 51,074 mi 46 yrs

Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 628 trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a BMW 628 you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used BMW 628?

The BMW 628 has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.8% across 1,371 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the BMW 628 are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (118 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (90), and subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (75). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical BMW 628 owner drives around 628 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most BMW 628 models stay on UK roads for around 45 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

BMW 628 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the BMW 628 reliable?
Based on 1,371 MOT tests, the BMW 628 has a 67.8% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a BMW 628?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake pipe excessively corroded, and subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a BMW 628 do per year?
The typical BMW 628 does around 628 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a BMW 628 last?
Most BMW 628 models stay on UK roads for around 45 years based on our analysis of 192 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a BMW 628?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a BMW 628?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used BMW 628 is 1983 with a 71.8% pass rate across 142 tests.