1985 BMW 3 Series — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

78.9%

Latest Pass Rate

2,113

Total Tests (All Years)

104,673 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1985 BMW 3 Series as it ages.

24 yrs55.1%

→ ↑0.6%

25 yrs55.7%

→ ↓0.4%

26 yrs55.3%

→ ↑3.8%

27 yrs59.1%

→ ↓2.8%

28 yrs56.3%

→ ↑10.4%

29 yrs66.7%

→ ↓3.2%

30 yrs63.5%

→ ↓2.9%

31 yrs60.6%

→ ↑9.2%

32 yrs69.8%

→ ↓14.6%

33 yrs55.2%

→ ↑16.9%

34 yrs72.1%

→ ↓8.2%

35 yrs63.9%

→ ↑10.8%

36 yrs74.7%

→ ↓2.5%

37 yrs72.2%

→ ↑1.2%

38 yrs73.4%

→ ↑5.5%

39 yrs78.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
24 yrs	55.1%	283
25 yrs	55.7%	219
26 yrs	55.3%	179
27 yrs	59.1%	164
28 yrs	56.3%	135
29 yrs	66.7%	114
30 yrs	63.5%	115
31 yrs	60.6%	99
32 yrs	69.8%	96
33 yrs	55.2%	96
34 yrs	72.1%	86
35 yrs	63.9%	83
36 yrs	74.7%	99
37 yrs	72.2%	90
38 yrs	73.4%	94
39 yrs	78.9%	161

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 BMW 3 Series pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (39 yrs)	78.9%	161
2023 (38 yrs)	73.4%	94
2022 (37 yrs)	72.2%	90
2021 (36 yrs)	74.7%	99
2020 (35 yrs)	63.9%	83
2019 (34 yrs)	72.1%	86
2018 (33 yrs)	55.2%	96
2017 (32 yrs)	69.8%	96
2016 (31 yrs)	60.6%	99
2015 (30 yrs)	63.5%	115
2014 (29 yrs)	66.7%	114
2013 (28 yrs)	56.3%	135
2012 (27 yrs)	59.1%	164
2011 (26 yrs)	55.3%	179
2010 (25 yrs)	55.7%	219
2009 (24 yrs)	55.1%	283

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

55.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 283Avg Mileage 96,293Top Failure Suspension — 27.2%

2010High Fail Rate

55.7%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 219Avg Mileage 98,268Top Failure Suspension — 26.5%

2011High Fail Rate

55.3%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 179Avg Mileage 94,451Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.6%

2012High Fail Rate

59.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 164Avg Mileage 92,661Top Failure Suspension — 25.0%

2013High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 135Avg Mileage 94,091Top Failure Suspension — 70.4%

2014

66.7%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 114Avg Mileage 94,586Top Failure Suspension — 61.4%

2015High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 115Avg Mileage 91,286Top Failure Brakes — 37.4%

2016High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 99Avg Mileage 99,240Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.5%

2017

69.8%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 96Avg Mileage 95,266Top Failure Brakes — 62.5%

2018High Fail Rate

55.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 96Avg Mileage 103,788Top Failure Brakes — 63.5%

2019

72.1%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 86Avg Mileage 104,572Top Failure Suspension — 44.2%

2020High Fail Rate

63.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 83Avg Mileage 105,867Top Failure Suspension — 81.9%

2021

74.7%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 99Avg Mileage 103,193Top Failure Suspension — 61.6%

2022

72.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 90Avg Mileage 105,989Top Failure Suspension — 52.2%

2023

73.4%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 94Avg Mileage 106,732Top Failure Suspension — 60.6%

2024

78.9%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 161Avg Mileage 104,673Top Failure Suspension — 28.6%

MOT results for 1985 BMW 3 Series by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	24	55.1%	283	96,293	Suspension — 27.2%
2010	25	55.7%	219	98,268	Suspension — 26.5%
2011	26	55.3%	179	94,451	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.6%
2012	27	59.1%	164	92,661	Suspension — 25.0%
2013	28	56.3%	135	94,091	Suspension — 70.4%
2014	29	66.7%	114	94,586	Suspension — 61.4%
2015	30	63.5%	115	91,286	Brakes — 37.4%
2016	31	60.6%	99	99,240	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.5%
2017	32	69.8%	96	95,266	Brakes — 62.5%
2018	33	55.2%	96	103,788	Brakes — 63.5%
2019	34	72.1%	86	104,572	Suspension — 44.2%
2020	35	63.9%	83	105,867	Suspension — 81.9%
2021	36	74.7%	99	103,193	Suspension — 61.6%
2022	37	72.2%	90	105,989	Suspension — 52.2%
2023	38	73.4%	94	106,732	Suspension — 60.6%
2024	39	78.9%	161	104,673	Suspension — 28.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 BMW 3 Series, with age trends.

Suspension

47.5%

— Consistent

Brakes

36.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

30.4%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

27.4%

— Consistent

Body, Structure and General Items

26.5%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	25.1% (24 yrs)	17.4% (39 yrs)	-7.7%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	27.2% (24 yrs)	28.6% (39 yrs)	+1.4%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the BMW 3 Series page →

About This Data

This page shows how BMW 3 Series cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,113 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.