1989 BMW 635 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

85.2%

Latest Pass Rate

2,253

Total Tests (All Years)

111,442 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 1989 BMW 635 as it ages.

20 yrs53.6%

→ ↑9.8%

21 yrs63.4%

→ ↓1.3%

22 yrs62.1%

→ ↓6.0%

23 yrs56.1%

→ ↑4.4%

24 yrs60.5%

→ ↑1.6%

25 yrs62.1%

→ ↑14.2%

26 yrs76.3%

→ ↓9.6%

27 yrs66.7%

→ ↑8.3%

28 yrs75.0%

→ ↓4.3%

29 yrs70.7%

→ ↑2.1%

30 yrs72.8%

→ ↑5.8%

31 yrs78.6%

→ ↑3.0%

32 yrs81.6%

→ ↓1.6%

33 yrs80.0%

→ ↑0.2%

34 yrs80.2%

→ ↑5.0%

35 yrs85.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	53.6%	196
21 yrs	63.4%	175
22 yrs	62.1%	169
23 yrs	56.1%	148
24 yrs	60.5%	157
25 yrs	62.1%	169
26 yrs	76.3%	152
27 yrs	66.7%	141
28 yrs	75.0%	152
29 yrs	70.7%	99
30 yrs	72.8%	103
31 yrs	78.6%	84
32 yrs	81.6%	114
33 yrs	80.0%	95
34 yrs	80.2%	116
35 yrs	85.2%	183

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 BMW 635 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (35 yrs)	85.2%	183
2023 (34 yrs)	80.2%	116
2022 (33 yrs)	80%	95
2021 (32 yrs)	81.6%	114
2020 (31 yrs)	78.6%	84
2019 (30 yrs)	72.8%	103
2018 (29 yrs)	70.7%	99
2017 (28 yrs)	75%	152
2016 (27 yrs)	66.7%	141
2015 (26 yrs)	76.3%	152
2014 (25 yrs)	62.1%	169
2013 (24 yrs)	60.5%	157
2012 (23 yrs)	56.1%	148
2011 (22 yrs)	62.1%	169
2010 (21 yrs)	63.4%	175
2009 (20 yrs)	53.6%	196

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 196Avg Mileage 116,910Top Failure Brakes — 28.1%

2010High Fail Rate

63.4%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 175Avg Mileage 123,087Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.7%

2011High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 169Avg Mileage 119,872Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.7%

2012High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 148Avg Mileage 123,022Top Failure Suspension — 27.0%

2013High Fail Rate

60.5%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 157Avg Mileage 122,204Top Failure Suspension — 66.9%

2014High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 169Avg Mileage 117,767Top Failure Suspension — 46.7%

2015

76.3%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 152Avg Mileage 118,286Top Failure Suspension — 38.2%

2016

66.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 141Avg Mileage 127,245Top Failure Suspension — 53.9%

2017

75.0%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 152Avg Mileage 122,174Top Failure Suspension — 29.6%

2018

70.7%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 99Avg Mileage 121,039Top Failure Suspension — 31.3%

2019

72.8%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 103Avg Mileage 122,621Top Failure Suspension — 34.0%

2020

78.6%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 84Avg Mileage 123,737Top Failure Brakes — 42.9%

2021

81.6%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 114Avg Mileage 118,886Top Failure Suspension — 21.1%

2022

80.0%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 95Avg Mileage 121,586Top Failure Brakes — 25.3%

2023

80.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 116Avg Mileage 125,910Top Failure Brakes — 19.8%

2024

85.2%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 183Avg Mileage 111,442Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 18.6%

MOT results for 1989 BMW 635 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	53.6%	196	116,910	Brakes — 28.1%
2010	21	63.4%	175	123,087	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.7%
2011	22	62.1%	169	119,872	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.7%
2012	23	56.1%	148	123,022	Suspension — 27.0%
2013	24	60.5%	157	122,204	Suspension — 66.9%
2014	25	62.1%	169	117,767	Suspension — 46.7%
2015	26	76.3%	152	118,286	Suspension — 38.2%
2016	27	66.7%	141	127,245	Suspension — 53.9%
2017	28	75.0%	152	122,174	Suspension — 29.6%
2018	29	70.7%	99	121,039	Suspension — 31.3%
2019	30	72.8%	103	122,621	Suspension — 34.0%
2020	31	78.6%	84	123,737	Brakes — 42.9%
2021	32	81.6%	114	118,886	Suspension — 21.1%
2022	33	80.0%	95	121,586	Brakes — 25.3%
2023	34	80.2%	116	125,910	Brakes — 19.8%
2024	35	85.2%	183	111,442	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 18.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 BMW 635, with age trends.

Suspension

30.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

28.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

27.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

17.7%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

16.5%

↓ 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
Brakes	28.1% (20 yrs)	16.4% (35 yrs)	-11.7%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	19.4% (20 yrs)	11.5% (35 yrs)	-7.9%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 2007 2008 2009 2010

← Back to BMW 635 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the BMW 635 page →

About This Data

This page shows how BMW 635 cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,253 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.