1998 Bentley Brooklands — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 301 MOT tests analysed for the 1998 Bentley Brooklands, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 88.7% was above the average for cars of a similar age (76.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 14.3% in the 60-90k group versus 4.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.3% | 19 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 10 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.7% | 8 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 5 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.3% | 4 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 13 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 5 |
| 3 | Wipers | 4 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 4 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 3 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 3 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.6% | 41 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.6% | 32 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 31 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.3% | 22 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.7% | 14 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 10 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 41 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 128 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 112 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67 | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 60 | 13.3% |
| 2023 | 60 | 5.0% |
| 2024 | 61 | 13.1% |
| 2025 | 53 | 13.2% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Brooklands
Before buying a 1998 Bentley Brooklands, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 6.3% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (6.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (3.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1998 Bentley Brooklandss pass their MOT?
88.7% of the 301 1998 Bentley Brooklands MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Bentley Brooklands?
Brakes, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.3%).
Does the 1998 Brooklands get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 301 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.