1971 BMW Unclassified — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

90.9%

Latest Pass Rate

460

Total Tests (All Years)

44,642 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 1971 BMW Unclassified as it ages.

38 yrs73.8%

→ ↑7.5%

39 yrs81.3%

→ ↓12.2%

40 yrs69.1%

→ ↑19.8%

41 yrs88.9%

→ ↑1.3%

42 yrs90.2%

→ ↑3.9%

43 yrs94.1%

→ ↓10.0%

44 yrs84.1%

→ ↑2.4%

45 yrs86.5%

→ ↑4.4%

46 yrs90.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	73.8%	61
39 yrs	81.3%	64
40 yrs	69.1%	55
41 yrs	88.9%	54
42 yrs	90.2%	41
43 yrs	94.1%	34
44 yrs	84.1%	44
45 yrs	86.5%	52
46 yrs	90.9%	55

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1971 BMW Unclassified pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (46 yrs)	90.9%	55
2016 (45 yrs)	86.5%	52
2015 (44 yrs)	84.1%	44
2014 (43 yrs)	94.1%	34
2013 (42 yrs)	90.2%	41
2012 (41 yrs)	88.9%	54
2011 (40 yrs)	69.1%	55
2010 (39 yrs)	81.3%	64
2009 (38 yrs)	73.8%	61

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

73.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 61Avg Mileage 49,743Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.8%

2010

81.3%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 64Avg Mileage 51,655Top Failure Driver's View of the Road — 7.8%

2011

69.1%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 55Avg Mileage 49,562Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.5%

2012

88.9%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 54Avg Mileage 42,945Top Failure Motorcycle steering and suspension — 3.7%

2013

90.2%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 41Avg Mileage 38,878Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.3%

2014

94.1%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 34Avg Mileage 43,751Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.6%

2015

84.1%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 44Avg Mileage 46,888Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.6%

2016

86.5%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 52Avg Mileage 45,341Top Failure Suspension — 9.6%

2017

90.9%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 55Avg Mileage 44,642Top Failure Motorcycle fuel and exhaust — 5.5%

MOT results for 1971 BMW Unclassified by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	73.8%	61	49,743	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.8%
2010	39	81.3%	64	51,655	Driver's View of the Road — 7.8%
2011	40	69.1%	55	49,562	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.5%
2012	41	88.9%	54	42,945	Motorcycle steering and suspension — 3.7%
2013	42	90.2%	41	38,878	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.3%
2014	43	94.1%	34	43,751	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.6%
2015	44	84.1%	44	46,888	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.6%
2016	45	86.5%	52	45,341	Suspension — 9.6%
2017	46	90.9%	55	44,642	Motorcycle fuel and exhaust — 5.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1971 BMW Unclassified, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

13.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

8.4%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

8.2%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

7.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Motorcycle steering and suspension

5.8%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	14.8% (38 yrs)	3.6% (46 yrs)	-11.2%	🟢 ↓
Motorcycle steering and suspension	6.6% (38 yrs)	3.6% (46 yrs)	-3.0%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how BMW Unclassified cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 460 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.