1992 BMW 3 Series — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1992 perform at MOT as they age

34 years

Current Age

77.5%

Latest Pass Rate

28,348

Total Tests (All Years)

109,631 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 1992 BMW 3 Series as it ages.

17 yrs43.9%

→ ↑0.2%

18 yrs44.1%

→ ↑1.2%

19 yrs45.3%

→ ↑3.4%

20 yrs48.7%

→ ↑1.4%

21 yrs50.1%

→ ↑0.3%

22 yrs50.4%

→ ↑5.1%

23 yrs55.5%

→ ↑4.5%

24 yrs60.0%

→ ↑1.0%

25 yrs61.0%

→ ↑4.4%

26 yrs65.4%

→ ↓1.0%

27 yrs64.4%

→ ↑3.0%

28 yrs67.4%

→ ↑1.8%

29 yrs69.2%

→ ↑3.0%

30 yrs72.2%

→ ↑3.8%

31 yrs76.0%

→ ↑1.5%

32 yrs77.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
17 yrs	43.9%	6,893
18 yrs	44.1%	5,199
19 yrs	45.3%	3,574
20 yrs	48.7%	2,401
21 yrs	50.1%	1,789
22 yrs	50.4%	1,427
23 yrs	55.5%	1,192
24 yrs	60.0%	964
25 yrs	61.0%	842
26 yrs	65.4%	515
27 yrs	64.4%	520
28 yrs	67.4%	451
29 yrs	69.2%	568
30 yrs	72.2%	471
31 yrs	76.0%	526
32 yrs	77.5%	1,016

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1992 BMW 3 Series pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (32 yrs)	77.5%	1,016
2023 (31 yrs)	76%	526
2022 (30 yrs)	72.2%	471
2021 (29 yrs)	69.2%	568
2020 (28 yrs)	67.4%	451
2019 (27 yrs)	64.4%	520
2018 (26 yrs)	65.4%	515
2017 (25 yrs)	61%	842
2016 (24 yrs)	60%	964
2015 (23 yrs)	55.5%	1,192
2014 (22 yrs)	50.4%	1,427
2013 (21 yrs)	50.1%	1,789
2012 (20 yrs)	48.7%	2,401
2011 (19 yrs)	45.3%	3,574
2010 (18 yrs)	44.1%	5,199
2009 (17 yrs)	43.9%	6,893

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

43.9%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 6,893Avg Mileage 126,009Top Failure Brakes — 35.2%

2010High Fail Rate

44.1%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 5,199Avg Mileage 126,406Top Failure Suspension — 35.6%

2011High Fail Rate

45.3%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 3,574Avg Mileage 123,831Top Failure Suspension — 34.7%

2012High Fail Rate

48.7%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 2,401Avg Mileage 121,454Top Failure Suspension — 32.9%

2013High Fail Rate

50.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 1,789Avg Mileage 118,358Top Failure Brakes — 81.9%

2014High Fail Rate

50.4%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 1,427Avg Mileage 117,597Top Failure Suspension — 73.9%

2015High Fail Rate

55.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 1,192Avg Mileage 115,368Top Failure Brakes — 69.5%

2016High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 964Avg Mileage 114,310Top Failure Brakes — 50.5%

2017High Fail Rate

61.0%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 842Avg Mileage 113,967Top Failure Brakes — 57.0%

2018

65.4%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 515Avg Mileage 113,710Top Failure Brakes — 52.6%

2019High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 520Avg Mileage 112,429Top Failure Suspension — 43.8%

2020

67.4%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 451Avg Mileage 109,832Top Failure Brakes — 40.4%

2021

69.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 568Avg Mileage 111,910Top Failure Suspension — 45.2%

2022

72.2%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 471Avg Mileage 112,396Top Failure Brakes — 39.9%

2023

76.0%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 526Avg Mileage 110,161Top Failure Brakes — 32.3%

2024

77.5%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 1,016Avg Mileage 109,631Top Failure Suspension — 24.7%

MOT results for 1992 BMW 3 Series by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	17	43.9%	6,893	126,009	Brakes — 35.2%
2010	18	44.1%	5,199	126,406	Suspension — 35.6%
2011	19	45.3%	3,574	123,831	Suspension — 34.7%
2012	20	48.7%	2,401	121,454	Suspension — 32.9%
2013	21	50.1%	1,789	118,358	Brakes — 81.9%
2014	22	50.4%	1,427	117,597	Suspension — 73.9%
2015	23	55.5%	1,192	115,368	Brakes — 69.5%
2016	24	60.0%	964	114,310	Brakes — 50.5%
2017	25	61.0%	842	113,967	Brakes — 57.0%
2018	26	65.4%	515	113,710	Brakes — 52.6%
2019	27	64.4%	520	112,429	Suspension — 43.8%
2020	28	67.4%	451	109,832	Brakes — 40.4%
2021	29	69.2%	568	111,910	Suspension — 45.2%
2022	30	72.2%	471	112,396	Brakes — 39.9%
2023	31	76.0%	526	110,161	Brakes — 32.3%
2024	32	77.5%	1,016	109,631	Suspension — 24.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1992 BMW 3 Series, with age trends.

Brakes

46.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

43.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

37.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

27.4%

— Consistent

Tyres

20.1%

↓ 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
Brakes	35.2% (17 yrs)	22.9% (32 yrs)	-12.3%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	33.9% (17 yrs)	24.7% (32 yrs)	-9.2%	🟢 ↓

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 1992 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 28,348 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.