1990 BMW 5 Series — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1990 perform at MOT as they age

36 years

Current Age

69.8%

Latest Pass Rate

5,372

Total Tests (All Years)

125,266 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 5 Series as it ages.

19 yrs52.8%

→ ↑4.0%

20 yrs56.8%

→ ↑0.5%

21 yrs57.3%

→ ↑1.2%

22 yrs58.5%

→ ↑5.3%

23 yrs63.8%

→ ↓8.2%

24 yrs55.6%

→ ↑5.8%

25 yrs61.4%

→ ↑0.6%

26 yrs62.0%

→ ↑10.1%

27 yrs72.1%

→ ↓4.5%

28 yrs67.6%

→ ↑2.0%

29 yrs69.6%

→ ↑0.7%

30 yrs70.3%

→ ↓2.6%

31 yrs67.7%

→ ↑1.7%

32 yrs69.4%

→ ↑5.3%

33 yrs74.7%

→ ↓4.9%

34 yrs69.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
19 yrs	52.8%	1,355
20 yrs	56.8%	1,024
21 yrs	57.3%	677
22 yrs	58.5%	468
23 yrs	63.8%	323
24 yrs	55.6%	261
25 yrs	61.4%	220
26 yrs	62.0%	200
27 yrs	72.1%	172
28 yrs	67.6%	105
29 yrs	69.6%	92
30 yrs	70.3%	74
31 yrs	67.7%	93
32 yrs	69.4%	72
33 yrs	74.7%	87
34 yrs	69.8%	149

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1990 BMW 5 Series pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (34 yrs)	69.8%	149
2023 (33 yrs)	74.7%	87
2022 (32 yrs)	69.4%	72
2021 (31 yrs)	67.7%	93
2020 (30 yrs)	70.3%	74
2019 (29 yrs)	69.6%	92
2018 (28 yrs)	67.6%	105
2017 (27 yrs)	72.1%	172
2016 (26 yrs)	62%	200
2015 (25 yrs)	61.4%	220
2014 (24 yrs)	55.6%	261
2013 (23 yrs)	63.8%	323
2012 (22 yrs)	58.5%	468
2011 (21 yrs)	57.3%	677
2010 (20 yrs)	56.8%	1,024
2009 (19 yrs)	52.8%	1,355

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

52.8%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 1,355Avg Mileage 140,221Top Failure Brakes — 24.8%

2010High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 1,024Avg Mileage 140,130Top Failure Suspension — 23.2%

2011High Fail Rate

57.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 677Avg Mileage 138,490Top Failure Suspension — 24.1%

2012High Fail Rate

58.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 468Avg Mileage 136,967Top Failure Suspension — 29.9%

2013High Fail Rate

63.8%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 323Avg Mileage 136,058Top Failure Suspension — 58.5%

2014High Fail Rate

55.6%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 261Avg Mileage 130,371Top Failure Suspension — 72.8%

2015High Fail Rate

61.4%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 220Avg Mileage 131,942Top Failure Suspension — 46.4%

2016High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 200Avg Mileage 129,427Top Failure Suspension — 59.0%

2017

72.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 172Avg Mileage 131,418Top Failure Suspension — 47.7%

2018

67.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 105Avg Mileage 126,554Top Failure Suspension — 47.6%

2019

69.6%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 92Avg Mileage 127,544Top Failure Suspension — 41.3%

2020

70.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 74Avg Mileage 122,367Top Failure Suspension — 35.1%

2021

67.7%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 93Avg Mileage 136,958Top Failure Suspension — 61.3%

2022

69.4%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 72Avg Mileage 137,893Top Failure Suspension — 66.7%

2023

74.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 87Avg Mileage 136,018Top Failure Suspension — 39.1%

2024

69.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 149Avg Mileage 125,266Top Failure Suspension — 38.9%

MOT results for 1990 BMW 5 Series by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	19	52.8%	1,355	140,221	Brakes — 24.8%
2010	20	56.8%	1,024	140,130	Suspension — 23.2%
2011	21	57.3%	677	138,490	Suspension — 24.1%
2012	22	58.5%	468	136,967	Suspension — 29.9%
2013	23	63.8%	323	136,058	Suspension — 58.5%
2014	24	55.6%	261	130,371	Suspension — 72.8%
2015	25	61.4%	220	131,942	Suspension — 46.4%
2016	26	62.0%	200	129,427	Suspension — 59.0%
2017	27	72.1%	172	131,418	Suspension — 47.7%
2018	28	67.6%	105	126,554	Suspension — 47.6%
2019	29	69.6%	92	127,544	Suspension — 41.3%
2020	30	70.3%	74	122,367	Suspension — 35.1%
2021	31	67.7%	93	136,958	Suspension — 61.3%
2022	32	69.4%	72	137,893	Suspension — 66.7%
2023	33	74.7%	87	136,018	Suspension — 39.1%
2024	34	69.8%	149	125,266	Suspension — 38.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1990 BMW 5 Series, with age trends.

Suspension

44.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

35.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

24.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

24.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

22.7%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	24.3% (19 yrs)	38.9% (34 yrs)	+14.6%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	24.8% (19 yrs)	33.6% (34 yrs)	+8.8%	🔴 ↑

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 1990 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 5,372 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.