BMW 640 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 640 car check
Is the BMW 640 reliable? We analysed 114,993 real MOT tests across 12,420 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 640? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 640 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 640.
BMW 640 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 640. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 640 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 640 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 640 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW 640 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW 640 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 640 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW 640 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 640 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 640 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 640 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4,451 | 84.5% | 24,412 | 38,370 | 56,398 |
| 2017 | 8,446 | 86.4% | 28,034 | 42,847 | 61,580 |
| 2016 | 16,039 | 86.3% | 32,188 | 48,496 | 68,622 |
| 2015 | 20,398 | 85.3% | 35,357 | 53,317 | 75,354 |
| 2014 | 24,010 | 83.9% | 36,472 | 56,359 | 80,569 |
| 2013 | 17,354 | 83.7% | 40,738 | 62,465 | 87,925 |
| 2012 | 16,166 | 83.7% | 42,576 | 65,049 | 89,360 |
| 2011 | 7,275 | 84.0% | 35,158 | 56,373 | 82,610 |
How Long Does a BMW 640 Last?
Based on 12,420 BMW 640 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 640 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 640 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 640
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.4% MOT pass rate from 8,446 tests
83.7% MOT pass rate from 16,166 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 640 is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.4% across 8,446 tests. The 2012 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 640 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 640 THIS CAR | 84.6% | 114,993 | 54,630 mi | 15 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 |
| Jeep Cherokee | 79.5% | 73,214 | 61,010 mi | 27 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 640 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 640 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.
Check a specific BMW 640Should you buy a used BMW 640?
The BMW 640 has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.6% across 114,993 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common failure point is tyre has ply or cords exposed with 691 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a BMW 640 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical BMW 640 owner drives around 6,692 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 640 models stay on UK roads for around 15 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.