1994 BMW 5 Series — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1994 perform at MOT as they age

32 years

Current Age

69.3%

Latest Pass Rate

17,167

Total Tests (All Years)

131,321 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 1994 BMW 5 Series as it ages.

15 yrs47.7%

→ ↓0.6%

16 yrs47.1%

→ ↓0.6%

17 yrs46.5%

→ ↑0.2%

18 yrs46.7%

→ ↑1.8%

19 yrs48.5%

→ ↑1.2%

20 yrs49.7%

→ ↑7.4%

21 yrs57.1%

→ ↓1.9%

22 yrs55.2%

→ ↑0.8%

23 yrs56.0%

→ ↓0.6%

24 yrs55.4%

→ ↑6.5%

25 yrs61.9%

→ ↓4.5%

26 yrs57.4%

→ ↑5.6%

27 yrs63.0%

→ ↑5.7%

28 yrs68.7%

→ ↑1.7%

29 yrs70.4%

→ ↓1.1%

30 yrs69.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
15 yrs	47.7%	4,223
16 yrs	47.1%	3,303
17 yrs	46.5%	2,401
18 yrs	46.7%	1,605
19 yrs	48.5%	1,141
20 yrs	49.7%	890
21 yrs	57.1%	716
22 yrs	55.2%	585
23 yrs	56.0%	468
24 yrs	55.4%	269
25 yrs	61.9%	236
26 yrs	57.4%	195
27 yrs	63.0%	270
28 yrs	68.7%	211
29 yrs	70.4%	230
30 yrs	69.3%	424

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1994 BMW 5 Series pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (30 yrs)	69.3%	424
2023 (29 yrs)	70.4%	230
2022 (28 yrs)	68.7%	211
2021 (27 yrs)	63%	270
2020 (26 yrs)	57.4%	195
2019 (25 yrs)	61.9%	236
2018 (24 yrs)	55.4%	269
2017 (23 yrs)	56%	468
2016 (22 yrs)	55.2%	585
2015 (21 yrs)	57.1%	716
2014 (20 yrs)	49.7%	890
2013 (19 yrs)	48.5%	1,141
2012 (18 yrs)	46.7%	1,605
2011 (17 yrs)	46.5%	2,401
2010 (16 yrs)	47.1%	3,303
2009 (15 yrs)	47.7%	4,223

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

47.7%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 4,223Avg Mileage 141,476Top Failure Brakes — 29.8%

2010High Fail Rate

47.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 3,303Avg Mileage 144,125Top Failure Brakes — 30.7%

2011High Fail Rate

46.5%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 2,401Avg Mileage 144,076Top Failure Suspension — 31.2%

2012High Fail Rate

46.7%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,605Avg Mileage 143,008Top Failure Suspension — 34.9%

2013High Fail Rate

48.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 1,141Avg Mileage 141,483Top Failure Suspension — 77.2%

2014High Fail Rate

49.7%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 890Avg Mileage 141,630Top Failure Suspension — 81.9%

2015High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 716Avg Mileage 141,745Top Failure Suspension — 69.0%

2016High Fail Rate

55.2%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 585Avg Mileage 141,918Top Failure Suspension — 73.3%

2017High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 468Avg Mileage 138,271Top Failure Suspension — 60.9%

2018High Fail Rate

55.4%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 269Avg Mileage 138,408Top Failure Suspension — 78.8%

2019High Fail Rate

61.9%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 236Avg Mileage 138,779Top Failure Suspension — 58.1%

2020High Fail Rate

57.4%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 195Avg Mileage 133,859Top Failure Suspension — 76.9%

2021High Fail Rate

63.0%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 270Avg Mileage 137,348Top Failure Suspension — 63.3%

2022

68.7%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 211Avg Mileage 136,051Top Failure Suspension — 55.0%

2023

70.4%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 230Avg Mileage 137,557Top Failure Brakes — 47.4%

2024

69.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 424Avg Mileage 131,321Top Failure Suspension — 41.7%

MOT results for 1994 BMW 5 Series by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	15	47.7%	4,223	141,476	Brakes — 29.8%
2010	16	47.1%	3,303	144,125	Brakes — 30.7%
2011	17	46.5%	2,401	144,076	Suspension — 31.2%
2012	18	46.7%	1,605	143,008	Suspension — 34.9%
2013	19	48.5%	1,141	141,483	Suspension — 77.2%
2014	20	49.7%	890	141,630	Suspension — 81.9%
2015	21	57.1%	716	141,745	Suspension — 69.0%
2016	22	55.2%	585	141,918	Suspension — 73.3%
2017	23	56.0%	468	138,271	Suspension — 60.9%
2018	24	55.4%	269	138,408	Suspension — 78.8%
2019	25	61.9%	236	138,779	Suspension — 58.1%
2020	26	57.4%	195	133,859	Suspension — 76.9%
2021	27	63.0%	270	137,348	Suspension — 63.3%
2022	28	68.7%	211	136,051	Suspension — 55.0%
2023	29	70.4%	230	137,557	Brakes — 47.4%
2024	30	69.3%	424	131,321	Suspension — 41.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1994 BMW 5 Series, with age trends.

Suspension

56.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

47.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

31.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

27.6%

— Consistent

Tyres

24.5%

↑ 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	27.1% (15 yrs)	41.7% (30 yrs)	+14.6%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	29.8% (15 yrs)	35.4% (30 yrs)	+5.6%	🔴 ↑

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 1994 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 17,167 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.