1988 BMW 3 Series — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

82.4%

Latest Pass Rate

16,445

Total Tests (All Years)

115,054 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 1988 BMW 3 Series as it ages.

21 yrs51.3%

→ ↑2.4%

22 yrs53.7%

→ ↑2.5%

23 yrs56.2%

→ ↑1.5%

24 yrs57.7%

→ ↑0.1%

25 yrs57.8%

→ ↑2.8%

26 yrs60.6%

→ ↑3.0%

27 yrs63.6%

→ ↑1.6%

28 yrs65.2%

→ ↑1.1%

29 yrs66.3%

→ ↑4.2%

30 yrs70.5%

→ ↓1.9%

31 yrs68.6%

→ ↑4.3%

32 yrs72.9%

→ ↓0.1%

33 yrs72.8%

→ ↑1.3%

34 yrs74.1%

→ ↑1.1%

35 yrs75.2%

→ ↑7.2%

36 yrs82.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	51.3%	2,311
22 yrs	53.7%	1,874
23 yrs	56.2%	1,576
24 yrs	57.7%	1,254
25 yrs	57.8%	1,121
26 yrs	60.6%	1,000
27 yrs	63.6%	960
28 yrs	65.2%	896
29 yrs	66.3%	830
30 yrs	70.5%	560
31 yrs	68.6%	577
32 yrs	72.9%	520
33 yrs	72.8%	643
34 yrs	74.1%	548
35 yrs	75.2%	614
36 yrs	82.4%	1,161

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 BMW 3 Series pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (36 yrs)	82.4%	1,161
2023 (35 yrs)	75.2%	614
2022 (34 yrs)	74.1%	548
2021 (33 yrs)	72.8%	643
2020 (32 yrs)	72.9%	520
2019 (31 yrs)	68.6%	577
2018 (30 yrs)	70.5%	560
2017 (29 yrs)	66.3%	830
2016 (28 yrs)	65.2%	896
2015 (27 yrs)	63.6%	960
2014 (26 yrs)	60.6%	1,000
2013 (25 yrs)	57.8%	1,121
2012 (24 yrs)	57.7%	1,254
2011 (23 yrs)	56.2%	1,576
2010 (22 yrs)	53.7%	1,874
2009 (21 yrs)	51.3%	2,311

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 2,311Avg Mileage 117,199Top Failure Brakes — 27.3%

2010High Fail Rate

53.7%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 1,874Avg Mileage 116,502Top Failure Suspension — 26.7%

2011High Fail Rate

56.2%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 1,576Avg Mileage 117,470Top Failure Suspension — 24.6%

2012High Fail Rate

57.7%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 1,254Avg Mileage 116,091Top Failure Suspension — 24.6%

2013High Fail Rate

57.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 1,121Avg Mileage 115,807Top Failure Suspension — 59.4%

2014High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 1,000Avg Mileage 116,820Top Failure Suspension — 50.6%

2015High Fail Rate

63.6%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 960Avg Mileage 116,009Top Failure Suspension — 49.5%

2016

65.2%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 896Avg Mileage 115,986Top Failure Suspension — 44.5%

2017

66.3%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 830Avg Mileage 115,350Top Failure Brakes — 45.4%

2018

70.5%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 560Avg Mileage 116,613Top Failure Suspension — 40.5%

2019

68.6%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 577Avg Mileage 113,809Top Failure Brakes — 35.4%

2020

72.9%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 520Avg Mileage 116,021Top Failure Brakes — 34.0%

2021

72.8%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 643Avg Mileage 116,306Top Failure Suspension — 35.9%

2022

74.1%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 548Avg Mileage 113,193Top Failure Brakes — 32.3%

2023

75.2%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 614Avg Mileage 115,755Top Failure Suspension — 29.0%

2024

82.4%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 1,161Avg Mileage 115,054Top Failure Brakes — 20.9%

MOT results for 1988 BMW 3 Series by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	51.3%	2,311	117,199	Brakes — 27.3%
2010	22	53.7%	1,874	116,502	Suspension — 26.7%
2011	23	56.2%	1,576	117,470	Suspension — 24.6%
2012	24	57.7%	1,254	116,091	Suspension — 24.6%
2013	25	57.8%	1,121	115,807	Suspension — 59.4%
2014	26	60.6%	1,000	116,820	Suspension — 50.6%
2015	27	63.6%	960	116,009	Suspension — 49.5%
2016	28	65.2%	896	115,986	Suspension — 44.5%
2017	29	66.3%	830	115,350	Brakes — 45.4%
2018	30	70.5%	560	116,613	Suspension — 40.5%
2019	31	68.6%	577	113,809	Brakes — 35.4%
2020	32	72.9%	520	116,021	Brakes — 34.0%
2021	33	72.8%	643	116,306	Suspension — 35.9%
2022	34	74.1%	548	113,193	Brakes — 32.3%
2023	35	75.2%	614	115,755	Suspension — 29.0%
2024	36	82.4%	1,161	115,054	Brakes — 20.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 BMW 3 Series, with age trends.

Suspension

35.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

34.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

31.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

23.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Driver's View of the Road

14.5%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	26.9% (21 yrs)	16.7% (36 yrs)	-10.2%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	27.3% (21 yrs)	20.9% (36 yrs)	-6.4%	🟢 ↓

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 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 16,445 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.