1990 BMW 3 Series — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1990 perform at MOT as they age

36 years

Current Age

78.7%

Latest Pass Rate

35,916

Total Tests (All Years)

120,082 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 1990 BMW 3 Series as it ages.

19 yrs51.6%

→ ↑0.6%

20 yrs52.2%

→ ↑1.7%

21 yrs53.9%

→ ↑1.6%

22 yrs55.5%

→ ↑3.4%

23 yrs58.9%

→ ↓1.0%

24 yrs57.9%

→ ↑6.6%

25 yrs64.5%

→ ↑0.9%

26 yrs65.4%

→ ↑0.5%

27 yrs65.9%

→ ↑2.3%

28 yrs68.2%

→ ↑0.9%

29 yrs69.1%

→ ↑3.1%

30 yrs72.2%

→ ↑0.1%

31 yrs72.3%

→ ↑1.9%

32 yrs74.2%

→ ↑2.3%

33 yrs76.5%

→ ↑2.2%

34 yrs78.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
19 yrs	51.6%	4,773
20 yrs	52.2%	3,935
21 yrs	53.9%	3,406
22 yrs	55.5%	2,828
23 yrs	58.9%	2,536
24 yrs	57.9%	2,347
25 yrs	64.5%	2,149
26 yrs	65.4%	1,996
27 yrs	65.9%	1,861
28 yrs	68.2%	1,228
29 yrs	69.1%	1,321
30 yrs	72.2%	1,151
31 yrs	72.3%	1,445
32 yrs	74.2%	1,192
33 yrs	76.5%	1,329
34 yrs	78.7%	2,419

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1990 BMW 3 Series pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (34 yrs)	78.7%	2,419
2023 (33 yrs)	76.5%	1,329
2022 (32 yrs)	74.2%	1,192
2021 (31 yrs)	72.3%	1,445
2020 (30 yrs)	72.2%	1,151
2019 (29 yrs)	69.1%	1,321
2018 (28 yrs)	68.2%	1,228
2017 (27 yrs)	65.9%	1,861
2016 (26 yrs)	65.4%	1,996
2015 (25 yrs)	64.5%	2,149
2014 (24 yrs)	57.9%	2,347
2013 (23 yrs)	58.9%	2,536
2012 (22 yrs)	55.5%	2,828
2011 (21 yrs)	53.9%	3,406
2010 (20 yrs)	52.2%	3,935
2009 (19 yrs)	51.6%	4,773

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 4,773Avg Mileage 117,795Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.5%

2010High Fail Rate

52.2%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 3,935Avg Mileage 117,929Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.9%

2011High Fail Rate

53.9%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 3,406Avg Mileage 118,099Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.5%

2012High Fail Rate

55.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 2,828Avg Mileage 117,878Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.0%

2013High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 2,536Avg Mileage 117,926Top Failure Brakes — 56.5%

2014High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 2,347Avg Mileage 118,569Top Failure Suspension — 56.7%

2015High Fail Rate

64.5%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 2,149Avg Mileage 119,225Top Failure Suspension — 49.0%

2016

65.4%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 1,996Avg Mileage 119,360Top Failure Suspension — 46.5%

2017

65.9%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 1,861Avg Mileage 120,894Top Failure Brakes — 40.7%

2018

68.2%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 1,228Avg Mileage 122,570Top Failure Suspension — 47.2%

2019

69.1%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 1,321Avg Mileage 121,471Top Failure Brakes — 40.9%

2020

72.2%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 1,151Avg Mileage 121,467Top Failure Brakes — 38.3%

2021

72.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 1,445Avg Mileage 118,730Top Failure Suspension — 36.8%

2022

74.2%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 1,192Avg Mileage 118,611Top Failure Brakes — 34.7%

2023

76.5%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 1,329Avg Mileage 120,613Top Failure Suspension — 32.7%

2024

78.7%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 2,419Avg Mileage 120,082Top Failure Brakes — 21.0%

MOT results for 1990 BMW 3 Series by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	19	51.6%	4,773	117,795	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.5%
2010	20	52.2%	3,935	117,929	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.9%
2011	21	53.9%	3,406	118,099	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.5%
2012	22	55.5%	2,828	117,878	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.0%
2013	23	58.9%	2,536	117,926	Brakes — 56.5%
2014	24	57.9%	2,347	118,569	Suspension — 56.7%
2015	25	64.5%	2,149	119,225	Suspension — 49.0%
2016	26	65.4%	1,996	119,360	Suspension — 46.5%
2017	27	65.9%	1,861	120,894	Brakes — 40.7%
2018	28	68.2%	1,228	122,570	Suspension — 47.2%
2019	29	69.1%	1,321	121,471	Brakes — 40.9%
2020	30	72.2%	1,151	121,467	Brakes — 38.3%
2021	31	72.3%	1,445	118,730	Suspension — 36.8%
2022	32	74.2%	1,192	118,611	Brakes — 34.7%
2023	33	76.5%	1,329	120,613	Suspension — 32.7%
2024	34	78.7%	2,419	120,082	Brakes — 21.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1990 BMW 3 Series, with age trends.

Suspension

37.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

36.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

34.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

29.2%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

15.1%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	25.7% (19 yrs)	19.2% (34 yrs)	-6.5%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	26.9% (19 yrs)	21.0% (34 yrs)	-5.9%	🟢 ↓

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 1990 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 35,916 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.