1991 BMW 5 Series — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1991 perform at MOT as they age

35 years

Current Age

80.1%

Latest Pass Rate

5,634

Total Tests (All Years)

126,285 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 1991 BMW 5 Series as it ages.

18 yrs50.8%

→ ↓0.2%

19 yrs50.6%

→ ↑3.7%

20 yrs54.3%

→ ↓4.9%

21 yrs49.4%

→ ↑2.5%

22 yrs51.9%

→ ↑8.0%

23 yrs59.9%

→ ↓3.8%

24 yrs56.1%

→ ↑8.0%

25 yrs64.1%

→ ↓8.3%

26 yrs55.8%

→ ↑10.9%

27 yrs66.7%

→ ↑3.4%

28 yrs70.1%

→ ↓5.3%

29 yrs64.8%

→ ↓1.5%

30 yrs63.3%

→ ↑7.5%

31 yrs70.8%

→ ↑9.5%

32 yrs80.3%

→ ↓0.2%

33 yrs80.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
18 yrs	50.8%	1,532
19 yrs	50.6%	1,050
20 yrs	54.3%	718
21 yrs	49.4%	484
22 yrs	51.9%	376
23 yrs	59.9%	272
24 yrs	56.1%	230
25 yrs	64.1%	195
26 yrs	55.8%	147
27 yrs	66.7%	90
28 yrs	70.1%	87
29 yrs	64.8%	71
30 yrs	63.3%	90
31 yrs	70.8%	65
32 yrs	80.3%	76
33 yrs	80.1%	151

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1991 BMW 5 Series pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (33 yrs)	80.1%	151
2023 (32 yrs)	80.3%	76
2022 (31 yrs)	70.8%	65
2021 (30 yrs)	63.3%	90
2020 (29 yrs)	64.8%	71
2019 (28 yrs)	70.1%	87
2018 (27 yrs)	66.7%	90
2017 (26 yrs)	55.8%	147
2016 (25 yrs)	64.1%	195
2015 (24 yrs)	56.1%	230
2014 (23 yrs)	59.9%	272
2013 (22 yrs)	51.9%	376
2012 (21 yrs)	49.4%	484
2011 (20 yrs)	54.3%	718
2010 (19 yrs)	50.6%	1,050
2009 (18 yrs)	50.8%	1,532

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,532Avg Mileage 141,440Top Failure Suspension — 27.2%

2010High Fail Rate

50.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 1,050Avg Mileage 140,676Top Failure Suspension — 27.4%

2011High Fail Rate

54.3%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 718Avg Mileage 139,533Top Failure Suspension — 26.3%

2012High Fail Rate

49.4%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 484Avg Mileage 137,607Top Failure Suspension — 36.6%

2013High Fail Rate

51.9%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 376Avg Mileage 135,239Top Failure Suspension — 98.7%

2014High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 272Avg Mileage 134,583Top Failure Suspension — 69.1%

2015High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 230Avg Mileage 133,460Top Failure Suspension — 80.0%

2016High Fail Rate

64.1%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 195Avg Mileage 134,424Top Failure Suspension — 83.1%

2017High Fail Rate

55.8%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 147Avg Mileage 135,823Top Failure Suspension — 63.9%

2018

66.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 90Avg Mileage 122,362Top Failure Suspension — 55.6%

2019

70.1%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 87Avg Mileage 135,753Top Failure Suspension — 60.9%

2020High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 71Avg Mileage 128,396Top Failure Brakes — 47.9%

2021High Fail Rate

63.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 90Avg Mileage 126,207Top Failure Suspension — 81.1%

2022

70.8%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 65Avg Mileage 117,715Top Failure Brakes — 49.2%

2023

80.3%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 76Avg Mileage 120,989Top Failure Suspension — 51.3%

2024

80.1%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 151Avg Mileage 126,285Top Failure Suspension — 35.8%

MOT results for 1991 BMW 5 Series by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	18	50.8%	1,532	141,440	Suspension — 27.2%
2010	19	50.6%	1,050	140,676	Suspension — 27.4%
2011	20	54.3%	718	139,533	Suspension — 26.3%
2012	21	49.4%	484	137,607	Suspension — 36.6%
2013	22	51.9%	376	135,239	Suspension — 98.7%
2014	23	59.9%	272	134,583	Suspension — 69.1%
2015	24	56.1%	230	133,460	Suspension — 80.0%
2016	25	64.1%	195	134,424	Suspension — 83.1%
2017	26	55.8%	147	135,823	Suspension — 63.9%
2018	27	66.7%	90	122,362	Suspension — 55.6%
2019	28	70.1%	87	135,753	Suspension — 60.9%
2020	29	64.8%	71	128,396	Brakes — 47.9%
2021	30	63.3%	90	126,207	Suspension — 81.1%
2022	31	70.8%	65	117,715	Brakes — 49.2%
2023	32	80.3%	76	120,989	Suspension — 51.3%
2024	33	80.1%	151	126,285	Suspension — 35.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1991 BMW 5 Series, with age trends.

Suspension

54.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

39.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

28.0%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

25.2%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

20.8%

↑ 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
Suspension	27.2% (18 yrs)	35.8% (33 yrs)	+8.6%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	26.7% (18 yrs)	31.8% (33 yrs)	+5.1%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	17.2% (18 yrs)	17.2% (33 yrs)	0.0%	⚪ —

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 1991 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 5,634 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.