1986 BMW 5 Series — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1986 perform at MOT as they age

40 years

Current Age

71.2%

Latest Pass Rate

2,146

Total Tests (All Years)

132,471 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 5 Series as it ages.

23 yrs53.2%

→ ↑3.9%

24 yrs57.1%

→ ↓2.6%

25 yrs54.5%

→ ↓2.8%

26 yrs51.7%

→ ↑4.6%

27 yrs56.3%

→ ↓11.8%

28 yrs44.5%

→ ↑13.4%

29 yrs57.9%

→ ↑9.4%

30 yrs67.3%

→ ↓6.1%

31 yrs61.2%

→ ↑10.5%

32 yrs71.7%

→ ↑1.2%

33 yrs72.9%

→ ↓0.1%

34 yrs72.8%

→ ↓1.2%

35 yrs71.6%

→ ↑0.9%

36 yrs72.5%

→ ↓8.1%

37 yrs64.4%

→ ↑6.8%

38 yrs71.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
23 yrs	53.2%	250
24 yrs	57.1%	196
25 yrs	54.5%	176
26 yrs	51.7%	149
27 yrs	56.3%	126
28 yrs	44.5%	119
29 yrs	57.9%	107
30 yrs	67.3%	104
31 yrs	61.2%	98
32 yrs	71.7%	99
33 yrs	72.9%	107
34 yrs	72.8%	81
35 yrs	71.6%	109
36 yrs	72.5%	102
37 yrs	64.4%	101
38 yrs	71.2%	222

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1986 BMW 5 Series pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (38 yrs)	71.2%	222
2023 (37 yrs)	64.4%	101
2022 (36 yrs)	72.5%	102
2021 (35 yrs)	71.6%	109
2020 (34 yrs)	72.8%	81
2019 (33 yrs)	72.9%	107
2018 (32 yrs)	71.7%	99
2017 (31 yrs)	61.2%	98
2016 (30 yrs)	67.3%	104
2015 (29 yrs)	57.9%	107
2014 (28 yrs)	44.5%	119
2013 (27 yrs)	56.3%	126
2012 (26 yrs)	51.7%	149
2011 (25 yrs)	54.5%	176
2010 (24 yrs)	57.1%	196
2009 (23 yrs)	53.2%	250

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 250Avg Mileage 121,560Top Failure Suspension — 24.8%

2010High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 196Avg Mileage 119,133Top Failure Suspension — 23.5%

2011High Fail Rate

54.5%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 176Avg Mileage 123,924Top Failure Suspension — 21.6%

2012High Fail Rate

51.7%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 149Avg Mileage 128,710Top Failure Suspension — 34.2%

2013High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 126Avg Mileage 124,411Top Failure Suspension — 73.0%

2014High Fail Rate

44.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 119Avg Mileage 121,097Top Failure Suspension — 76.5%

2015High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 107Avg Mileage 125,253Top Failure Suspension — 61.7%

2016

67.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 104Avg Mileage 133,677Top Failure Suspension — 51.0%

2017High Fail Rate

61.2%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 98Avg Mileage 130,908Top Failure Suspension — 61.2%

2018

71.7%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 99Avg Mileage 129,363Top Failure Suspension — 36.4%

2019

72.9%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 107Avg Mileage 121,805Top Failure Suspension — 34.6%

2020

72.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 81Avg Mileage 140,597Top Failure Suspension — 44.4%

2021

71.6%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 109Avg Mileage 126,842Top Failure Suspension — 44.0%

2022

72.5%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 102Avg Mileage 130,651Top Failure Suspension — 38.2%

2023High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 101Avg Mileage 129,891Top Failure Suspension — 48.5%

2024

71.2%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 222Avg Mileage 132,471Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 24.3%

MOT results for 1986 BMW 5 Series by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	23	53.2%	250	121,560	Suspension — 24.8%
2010	24	57.1%	196	119,133	Suspension — 23.5%
2011	25	54.5%	176	123,924	Suspension — 21.6%
2012	26	51.7%	149	128,710	Suspension — 34.2%
2013	27	56.3%	126	124,411	Suspension — 73.0%
2014	28	44.5%	119	121,097	Suspension — 76.5%
2015	29	57.9%	107	125,253	Suspension — 61.7%
2016	30	67.3%	104	133,677	Suspension — 51.0%
2017	31	61.2%	98	130,908	Suspension — 61.2%
2018	32	71.7%	99	129,363	Suspension — 36.4%
2019	33	72.9%	107	121,805	Suspension — 34.6%
2020	34	72.8%	81	140,597	Suspension — 44.4%
2021	35	71.6%	109	126,842	Suspension — 44.0%
2022	36	72.5%	102	130,651	Suspension — 38.2%
2023	37	64.4%	101	129,891	Suspension — 48.5%
2024	38	71.2%	222	132,471	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 24.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1986 BMW 5 Series, with age trends.

Suspension

43.5%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

34.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

30.9%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

25.2%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

21.0%

↓ 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	24.8% (23 yrs)	22.1% (38 yrs)	-2.7%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	19.2% (23 yrs)	18.9% (38 yrs)	-0.3%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the BMW 5 Series page →

About This Data

This page shows how BMW 5 Series cars manufactured in 1986 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,146 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.