1986 BMW 3 Series — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1986 perform at MOT as they age

40 years

Current Age

75.5%

Latest Pass Rate

5,845

Total Tests (All Years)

106,013 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 1986 BMW 3 Series as it ages.

23 yrs52.3%

→ ↑2.3%

24 yrs54.6%

→ ↑2.2%

25 yrs56.8%

→ ↓1.6%

26 yrs55.2%

→ ↑2.7%

27 yrs57.9%

→ ↓2.3%

28 yrs55.6%

→ ↑5.0%

29 yrs60.6%

→ ↑5.3%

30 yrs65.9%

→ ↓1.0%

31 yrs64.9%

→ ↑2.1%

32 yrs67.0%

→ ↑2.9%

33 yrs69.9%

→ ↓0.4%

34 yrs69.5%

→ ↑4.7%

35 yrs74.2%

→ ↑4.4%

36 yrs78.6%

→ ↓1.4%

37 yrs77.2%

→ ↓1.7%

38 yrs75.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
23 yrs	52.3%	793
24 yrs	54.6%	634
25 yrs	56.8%	549
26 yrs	55.2%	455
27 yrs	57.9%	373
28 yrs	55.6%	349
29 yrs	60.6%	325
30 yrs	65.9%	331
31 yrs	64.9%	302
32 yrs	67.0%	203
33 yrs	69.9%	219
34 yrs	69.5%	190
35 yrs	74.2%	225
36 yrs	78.6%	201
37 yrs	77.2%	202
38 yrs	75.5%	494

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1986 BMW 3 Series pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (38 yrs)	75.5%	494
2023 (37 yrs)	77.2%	202
2022 (36 yrs)	78.6%	201
2021 (35 yrs)	74.2%	225
2020 (34 yrs)	69.5%	190
2019 (33 yrs)	69.9%	219
2018 (32 yrs)	67%	203
2017 (31 yrs)	64.9%	302
2016 (30 yrs)	65.9%	331
2015 (29 yrs)	60.6%	325
2014 (28 yrs)	55.6%	349
2013 (27 yrs)	57.9%	373
2012 (26 yrs)	55.2%	455
2011 (25 yrs)	56.8%	549
2010 (24 yrs)	54.6%	634
2009 (23 yrs)	52.3%	793

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

52.3%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 793Avg Mileage 108,188Top Failure Suspension — 27.5%

2010High Fail Rate

54.6%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 634Avg Mileage 109,749Top Failure Suspension — 26.2%

2011High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 549Avg Mileage 109,661Top Failure Suspension — 25.7%

2012High Fail Rate

55.2%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 455Avg Mileage 109,249Top Failure Suspension — 26.2%

2013High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 373Avg Mileage 108,790Top Failure Suspension — 62.7%

2014High Fail Rate

55.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 349Avg Mileage 108,226Top Failure Suspension — 70.8%

2015High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 325Avg Mileage 107,017Top Failure Suspension — 46.2%

2016

65.9%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 331Avg Mileage 109,655Top Failure Suspension — 47.7%

2017High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 302Avg Mileage 110,920Top Failure Suspension — 50.7%

2018

67.0%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 203Avg Mileage 104,155Top Failure Brakes — 35.5%

2019

69.9%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 219Avg Mileage 112,972Top Failure Suspension — 45.7%

2020

69.5%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 190Avg Mileage 115,027Top Failure Suspension — 40.0%

2021

74.2%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 225Avg Mileage 106,499Top Failure Suspension — 32.0%

2022

78.6%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 201Avg Mileage 106,924Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 27.4%

2023

77.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 202Avg Mileage 103,134Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 25.7%

2024

75.5%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 494Avg Mileage 106,013Top Failure Brakes — 23.9%

MOT results for 1986 BMW 3 Series by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	23	52.3%	793	108,188	Suspension — 27.5%
2010	24	54.6%	634	109,749	Suspension — 26.2%
2011	25	56.8%	549	109,661	Suspension — 25.7%
2012	26	55.2%	455	109,249	Suspension — 26.2%
2013	27	57.9%	373	108,790	Suspension — 62.7%
2014	28	55.6%	349	108,226	Suspension — 70.8%
2015	29	60.6%	325	107,017	Suspension — 46.2%
2016	30	65.9%	331	109,655	Suspension — 47.7%
2017	31	64.9%	302	110,920	Suspension — 50.7%
2018	32	67.0%	203	104,155	Brakes — 35.5%
2019	33	69.9%	219	112,972	Suspension — 45.7%
2020	34	69.5%	190	115,027	Suspension — 40.0%
2021	35	74.2%	225	106,499	Suspension — 32.0%
2022	36	78.6%	201	106,924	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 27.4%
2023	37	77.2%	202	103,134	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 25.7%
2024	38	75.5%	494	106,013	Brakes — 23.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1986 BMW 3 Series, with age trends.

Suspension

37.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

33.2%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

32.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

26.6%

— Consistent

Body, Structure and General Items

17.2%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	27.5% (23 yrs)	19.4% (38 yrs)	-8.1%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	25.5% (23 yrs)	23.9% (38 yrs)	-1.6%	⚪ —

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 1986 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 5,845 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.