1988 BMW 5 Series — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

71.6%

Latest Pass Rate

3,296

Total Tests (All Years)

124,490 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 5 Series as it ages.

21 yrs51.4%

→ ↑1.8%

22 yrs53.2%

→ ↑6.7%

23 yrs59.9%

→ ↓5.3%

24 yrs54.6%

→ ↑5.4%

25 yrs60.0%

→ ↓0.4%

26 yrs59.6%

→ ↓3.2%

27 yrs56.4%

→ ↑4.4%

28 yrs60.8%

→ ↓1.3%

29 yrs59.5%

→ ↑11.0%

30 yrs70.5%

→ ↑0.8%

31 yrs71.3%

→ ↓5.9%

32 yrs65.4%

→ ↑2.2%

33 yrs67.6%

→ ↑5.5%

34 yrs73.1%

→ ↓0.8%

35 yrs72.3%

→ ↓0.7%

36 yrs71.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	51.4%	607
22 yrs	53.2%	470
23 yrs	59.9%	347
24 yrs	54.6%	282
25 yrs	60.0%	220
26 yrs	59.6%	198
27 yrs	56.4%	172
28 yrs	60.8%	158
29 yrs	59.5%	148
30 yrs	70.5%	105
31 yrs	71.3%	87
32 yrs	65.4%	78
33 yrs	67.6%	105
34 yrs	73.1%	67
35 yrs	72.3%	83
36 yrs	71.6%	169

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 BMW 5 Series pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (36 yrs)	71.6%	169
2023 (35 yrs)	72.3%	83
2022 (34 yrs)	73.1%	67
2021 (33 yrs)	67.6%	105
2020 (32 yrs)	65.4%	78
2019 (31 yrs)	71.3%	87
2018 (30 yrs)	70.5%	105
2017 (29 yrs)	59.5%	148
2016 (28 yrs)	60.8%	158
2015 (27 yrs)	56.4%	172
2014 (26 yrs)	59.6%	198
2013 (25 yrs)	60%	220
2012 (24 yrs)	54.6%	282
2011 (23 yrs)	59.9%	347
2010 (22 yrs)	53.2%	470
2009 (21 yrs)	51.4%	607

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.4%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 607Avg Mileage 131,910Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.2%

2010High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 470Avg Mileage 132,209Top Failure Suspension — 25.5%

2011High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 347Avg Mileage 129,221Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.5%

2012High Fail Rate

54.6%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 282Avg Mileage 127,348Top Failure Suspension — 31.6%

2013High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 220Avg Mileage 126,014Top Failure Suspension — 70.5%

2014High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 198Avg Mileage 125,819Top Failure Suspension — 75.8%

2015High Fail Rate

56.4%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 172Avg Mileage 126,146Top Failure Suspension — 64.5%

2016High Fail Rate

60.8%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 158Avg Mileage 130,370Top Failure Suspension — 65.8%

2017High Fail Rate

59.5%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 148Avg Mileage 132,142Top Failure Suspension — 62.2%

2018

70.5%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 105Avg Mileage 126,948Top Failure Suspension — 55.2%

2019

71.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 87Avg Mileage 130,472Top Failure Brakes — 37.9%

2020

65.4%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 78Avg Mileage 122,356Top Failure Suspension — 39.7%

2021

67.6%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 105Avg Mileage 134,013Top Failure Suspension — 45.7%

2022

73.1%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 67Avg Mileage 137,125Top Failure Suspension — 31.3%

2023

72.3%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 83Avg Mileage 125,443Top Failure Suspension — 41.0%

2024

71.6%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 169Avg Mileage 124,490Top Failure Brakes — 63.3%

MOT results for 1988 BMW 5 Series by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	51.4%	607	131,910	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.2%
2010	22	53.2%	470	132,209	Suspension — 25.5%
2011	23	59.9%	347	129,221	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.5%
2012	24	54.6%	282	127,348	Suspension — 31.6%
2013	25	60.0%	220	126,014	Suspension — 70.5%
2014	26	59.6%	198	125,819	Suspension — 75.8%
2015	27	56.4%	172	126,146	Suspension — 64.5%
2016	28	60.8%	158	130,370	Suspension — 65.8%
2017	29	59.5%	148	132,142	Suspension — 62.2%
2018	30	70.5%	105	126,948	Suspension — 55.2%
2019	31	71.3%	87	130,472	Brakes — 37.9%
2020	32	65.4%	78	122,356	Suspension — 39.7%
2021	33	67.6%	105	134,013	Suspension — 45.7%
2022	34	73.1%	67	137,125	Suspension — 31.3%
2023	35	72.3%	83	125,443	Suspension — 41.0%
2024	36	71.6%	169	124,490	Brakes — 63.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 BMW 5 Series, with age trends.

Suspension

45.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

36.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

32.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

22.6%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

22.2%

↑ Increases 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	24.2% (21 yrs)	63.3% (36 yrs)	+39.1%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	24.2% (21 yrs)	40.2% (36 yrs)	+16.0%	🔴 ↑

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 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 3,296 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.