1997 BMW 323 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

53.5%

Latest Pass Rate

25,794

Total Tests (All Years)

121,101 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 20

This car: 53.5%

Average: 56.6%

⚠️ 3.1% below average (6824 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 BMW 323 as it ages.

12 yrs48.9%

→ ↓1.0%

13 yrs47.9%

→ ↓2.4%

14 yrs45.5%

→ ↑1.0%

15 yrs46.5%

→ ↑2.0%

16 yrs48.5%

→ ↓1.6%

17 yrs46.9%

→ ↑3.4%

18 yrs50.3%

→ ↑3.0%

19 yrs53.3%

→ ↑0.2%

20 yrs53.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	48.9%	4,948
13 yrs	47.9%	4,532
14 yrs	45.5%	4,052
15 yrs	46.5%	3,229
16 yrs	48.5%	2,615
17 yrs	46.9%	2,102
18 yrs	50.3%	1,724
19 yrs	53.3%	1,430
20 yrs	53.5%	1,162

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 BMW 323 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (20 yrs)	53.5%	1,162
2016 (19 yrs)	53.3%	1,430
2015 (18 yrs)	50.3%	1,724
2014 (17 yrs)	46.9%	2,102
2013 (16 yrs)	48.5%	2,615
2012 (15 yrs)	46.5%	3,229
2011 (14 yrs)	45.5%	4,052
2010 (13 yrs)	47.9%	4,532
2009 (12 yrs)	48.9%	4,948

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

48.9%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 4,948Avg Mileage 111,543Top Failure Brakes — 33.6%

2010High Fail Rate

47.9%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 4,532Avg Mileage 116,046Top Failure Brakes — 34.2%

2011High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 4,052Avg Mileage 118,729Top Failure Brakes — 36.5%

2012High Fail Rate

46.5%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 3,229Avg Mileage 119,425Top Failure Brakes — 35.6%

2013High Fail Rate

48.5%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 2,615Avg Mileage 120,059Top Failure Brakes — 103.9%

2014High Fail Rate

46.9%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 2,102Avg Mileage 120,099Top Failure Brakes — 95.3%

2015High Fail Rate

50.3%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,724Avg Mileage 120,761Top Failure Brakes — 86.1%

2016High Fail Rate

53.3%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 1,430Avg Mileage 121,816Top Failure Brakes — 82.2%

2017High Fail Rate

53.5%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 1,162Avg Mileage 121,101Top Failure Brakes — 78.0%

MOT results for 1997 BMW 323 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	48.9%	4,948	111,543	Brakes — 33.6%
2010	13	47.9%	4,532	116,046	Brakes — 34.2%
2011	14	45.5%	4,052	118,729	Brakes — 36.5%
2012	15	46.5%	3,229	119,425	Brakes — 35.6%
2013	16	48.5%	2,615	120,059	Brakes — 103.9%
2014	17	46.9%	2,102	120,099	Brakes — 95.3%
2015	18	50.3%	1,724	120,761	Brakes — 86.1%
2016	19	53.3%	1,430	121,816	Brakes — 82.2%
2017	20	53.5%	1,162	121,101	Brakes — 78.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 BMW 323, with age trends.

Brakes

65.0%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

52.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

36.0%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

24.9%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

16.1%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	33.6% (12 yrs)	78.0% (20 yrs)	+44.4%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	28.3% (12 yrs)	66.2% (20 yrs)	+37.9%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	25.6% (12 yrs)	40.2% (20 yrs)	+14.6%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	18.0% (12 yrs)	26.6% (20 yrs)	+8.6%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1981 1982 1984 1985 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

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About This Data

This page shows how BMW 323 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 25,794 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.