1988 BMW 735 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

52.6%

Latest Pass Rate

514

Total Tests (All Years)

141,326 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 735 as it ages.

21 yrs54.5%

→ ↓2.7%

22 yrs51.8%

→ ↑12.9%

23 yrs64.7%

→ ↓14.7%

24 yrs50.0%

→ ↑10.0%

25 yrs60.0%

→ ↑3.9%

26 yrs63.9%

→ ↓1.4%

27 yrs62.5%

→ ↓6.2%

28 yrs56.3%

→ ↓3.0%

29 yrs53.3%

→ ↓0.7%

36 yrs52.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	54.5%	110
22 yrs	51.8%	83
23 yrs	64.7%	68
24 yrs	50.0%	50
25 yrs	60.0%	35
26 yrs	63.9%	36
27 yrs	62.5%	32
28 yrs	56.3%	32
29 yrs	53.3%	30
36 yrs	52.6%	38

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 BMW 735 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (36 yrs)	52.6%	38
2017 (29 yrs)	53.3%	30
2016 (28 yrs)	56.3%	32
2015 (27 yrs)	62.5%	32
2014 (26 yrs)	63.9%	36
2013 (25 yrs)	60%	35
2012 (24 yrs)	50%	50
2011 (23 yrs)	64.7%	68
2010 (22 yrs)	51.8%	83
2009 (21 yrs)	54.5%	110

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

54.5%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 110Avg Mileage 140,103Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.5%

2010High Fail Rate

51.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 83Avg Mileage 138,933Top Failure Brakes — 32.5%

2011High Fail Rate

64.7%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 68Avg Mileage 134,068Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.9%

2012High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 50Avg Mileage 146,260Top Failure Suspension — 36.0%

2013High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 35Avg Mileage 140,746Top Failure Brakes — 65.7%

2014High Fail Rate

63.9%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 36Avg Mileage 136,171Top Failure Suspension — 61.1%

2015High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 32Avg Mileage 150,005Top Failure Suspension — 71.9%

2016High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 32Avg Mileage 148,483Top Failure Brakes — 53.1%

2017High Fail Rate

53.3%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 30Avg Mileage 155,852Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 63.3%

2024High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 38Avg Mileage 141,326Top Failure Suspension — 94.7%

MOT results for 1988 BMW 735 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	54.5%	110	140,103	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.5%
2010	22	51.8%	83	138,933	Brakes — 32.5%
2011	23	64.7%	68	134,068	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.9%
2012	24	50.0%	50	146,260	Suspension — 36.0%
2013	25	60.0%	35	140,746	Brakes — 65.7%
2014	26	63.9%	36	136,171	Suspension — 61.1%
2015	27	62.5%	32	150,005	Suspension — 71.9%
2016	28	56.3%	32	148,483	Brakes — 53.1%
2017	29	53.3%	30	155,852	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 63.3%
2024	36	52.6%	38	141,326	Suspension — 94.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 BMW 735, with age trends.

Suspension

44.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

41.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

36.1%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

28.9%

— Consistent

Tyres

22.1%

↑ 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	20.0% (21 yrs)	94.7% (36 yrs)	+74.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	25.5% (21 yrs)	63.2% (36 yrs)	+37.7%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1985 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

← Back to BMW 735 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the BMW 735 page →

About This Data

This page shows how BMW 735 cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 514 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.