BMW M135 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW M135 car check
Is the BMW M135 reliable? We analysed 887 real MOT tests across 172 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW M135? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW M135 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW M135.
BMW M135 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW M135. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW M135 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW M135 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW M135 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW M135 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW M135 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW M135 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW M135 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW M135 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 310 | 89.4% | 33,252 | 44,960 | 56,446 |
| 2015 | 173 | 87.9% | 34,807 | 51,098 | 69,602 |
| 2014 | 106 | 84.9% | 31,672 | 46,534 | 70,446 |
| 2013 | 164 | 86.0% | 38,881 | 54,199 | 75,491 |
How Long Does a BMW M135 Last?
Based on 172 BMW M135 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW M135 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW M135 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 M135
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.4% MOT pass rate from 310 tests
84.9% MOT pass rate from 106 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW M135 is 2016, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.4% across 310 tests. The 2014 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW M135 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW M135 THIS CAR | 88.2% | 887 | 45,774 mi | 13 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 Frontera | 68.3% | 1,170 | 72,870 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW M135 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW M135 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 M135Should you buy a used BMW M135?
The BMW M135 has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.2% across 887 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
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 M135 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 M135 owner drives around 5,597 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 M135 models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. 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.