1989 BMW 635 3.4L Petrol · G13 PLJ

The most recent DVSA MOT test, conducted on 28 August 2025, resulted in a pass, although the same date also shows a failure entry which typically reflects items that were rectified on site and re-presented for assessment within the same visit. The failure record shows a single Pass After Rectification item concerning offside front headlamp aim, which was too high and too far to the right, a minor adjustment issue rather than a structural defect. Three advisories were raised at the same test, covering nearside and offside front suspension arm pin or bush wear on the rear arm, plus corrosion of the exhaust rear silencer. Looking at the broader history, the vehicle achieved clean passes in September 2022, 2023 and 2024 with no recorded defects or advisories in those years, indicating that the 2025 advisory items represent the first notable wear concerns to appear on record. This suggests the maintenance trend is broadly stable but entering a phase where age-related wear on suspension components and the exhaust system is beginning to surface. With 157,062 miles accumulated over approximately 37 years, this E24 635 has covered an average of around 4,245 miles per year, which is genuinely low annual usage for a classic grand tourer of this age and a strong indicator that the car has either been used very sparingly, has had extended periods of standing, or both. The MOT frequency suggests the vehicle has been tested annually without significant gaps, but the relatively low mileage implies considerable time spent off the road or in light seasonal use. Low annual mileage of this nature can be deceptive, as prolonged standing accelerates different forms of degradation than high mileage does, including corrosion of brake discs and calipers, perishing of rubber components such as tyres, bushes, and coolant hoses, and degradation of fluids based on calendar age rather than service intervals. The odometer reading should ideally be corroborated against service book stamps and any available HMRC or DVLA mileage records to confirm the figure is consistent and has not rolled over. Given the advisories recorded for the front suspension arm pins or bushes, a prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the condition of the rear trailing arm bushes on both sides during any test drive, as these are a known wear item on E24 chassis cars of this vintage and the MOT advisory wording suggests movement is not yet excessive but is approaching the threshold. Listen for clonks or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps, uneven surfaces, and during full-lock steering manoeuvres, and inspect the inner and outer edges of the front tyres for uneven wear patterns, particularly feathering or inner-edge wear which typically points to worn bushes. The exhaust rear silencer corrosion advisory is consistent with the vehicle's 37-year age and indicates the silencer is likely nearing the end of its service life, so a physical inspection of the rear section for rattles, blowing sounds, visible perforation, or hanging mountings is advisable. Additionally, because of the low annual mileage, a thorough inspection of the braking system is essential, including checking for seized or binding calipers that can develop from standing, scoring or lipping on the brake discs which can cause brake shudder under heavy application, and the condition of the flexible brake hoses which may have perished internally even if the exterior appears serviceable. Beyond the recorded defects, the age and low usage profile of this 635 warrants careful attention to several time-based service items that may not be reflected in MOT records. The tyres should be examined closely for sidewall cracking and perishing caused by age rather than wear, as rubber compounds degrade over time regardless of tread depth, and any tyres over five or six years old should be replaced on safety grounds. The 12V battery should be tested for its state of health and cranking performance, as batteries left discharged or used only intermittently fail prematurely, and the charging system should be confirmed to be operating correctly. All under-bonnet fluids including engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and differential fluid where applicable should be checked, with brake fluid in particular requiring replacement on a calendar basis typically every two years due to its hygroscopic nature, regardless of mileage. Coolant hoses, drive belts, and the timing chain or belt condition should be assessed by a specialist familiar with the M30 or M88 engine family fitted to this model, and a compression test or borescope inspection would be prudent given the standing periods the vehicle may have experienced. Finally, verify that the service history is complete and consistent, and consider a pre-purchase inspection by a marque specialist who can place the car on a ramp to examine the underside for corrosion, suspension component wear, oil leaks, and the overall structural integrity of this increasingly collectable BMW.