1989 BMW 735 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

76.7%

Latest Pass Rate

686

Total Tests (All Years)

152,204 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 735 as it ages.

20 yrs53.4%

→ ↑5.9%

21 yrs59.3%

→ ↓2.2%

22 yrs57.1%

→ ↓2.7%

23 yrs54.4%

→ ↑12.3%

24 yrs66.7%

→ ↓2.0%

25 yrs64.7%

→ ↑0.6%

26 yrs65.3%

→ ↑6.8%

27 yrs72.1%

→ ↓1.4%

28 yrs70.7%

→ ↑6.0%

35 yrs76.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	53.4%	148
21 yrs	59.3%	118
22 yrs	57.1%	84
23 yrs	54.4%	68
24 yrs	66.7%	54
25 yrs	64.7%	51
26 yrs	65.3%	49
27 yrs	72.1%	43
28 yrs	70.7%	41
35 yrs	76.7%	30

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 BMW 735 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (35 yrs)	76.7%	30
2017 (28 yrs)	70.7%	41
2016 (27 yrs)	72.1%	43
2015 (26 yrs)	65.3%	49
2014 (25 yrs)	64.7%	51
2013 (24 yrs)	66.7%	54
2012 (23 yrs)	54.4%	68
2011 (22 yrs)	57.1%	84
2010 (21 yrs)	59.3%	118
2009 (20 yrs)	53.4%	148

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

53.4%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 148Avg Mileage 145,724Top Failure Brakes — 24.3%

2010High Fail Rate

59.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 118Avg Mileage 141,662Top Failure Brakes — 25.4%

2011High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 84Avg Mileage 135,702Top Failure Suspension — 25.0%

2012High Fail Rate

54.4%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 68Avg Mileage 137,904Top Failure Suspension — 35.3%

2013

66.7%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 54Avg Mileage 128,108Top Failure Brakes — 64.8%

2014High Fail Rate

64.7%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 51Avg Mileage 127,267Top Failure Suspension — 74.5%

2015

65.3%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 49Avg Mileage 127,592Top Failure Suspension — 51.0%

2016

72.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 43Avg Mileage 126,822Top Failure Brakes — 37.2%

2017

70.7%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 41Avg Mileage 128,844Top Failure Suspension — 53.7%

2024

76.7%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 30Avg Mileage 152,204Top Failure Suspension — 46.7%

MOT results for 1989 BMW 735 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	53.4%	148	145,724	Brakes — 24.3%
2010	21	59.3%	118	141,662	Brakes — 25.4%
2011	22	57.1%	84	135,702	Suspension — 25.0%
2012	23	54.4%	68	137,904	Suspension — 35.3%
2013	24	66.7%	54	128,108	Brakes — 64.8%
2014	25	64.7%	51	127,267	Suspension — 74.5%
2015	26	65.3%	49	127,592	Suspension — 51.0%
2016	27	72.1%	43	126,822	Brakes — 37.2%
2017	28	70.7%	41	128,844	Suspension — 53.7%
2024	35	76.7%	30	152,204	Suspension — 46.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 BMW 735, with age trends.

Suspension

41.0%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

37.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

22.2%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

17.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

16.0%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	23.0% (20 yrs)	46.7% (35 yrs)	+23.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	24.3% (20 yrs)	40.0% (35 yrs)	+15.7%	🔴 ↑

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 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 686 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.