1986 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1986 BMW 5 Series passed 80.3% of its 706 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 17.2% of the time, so this is 2.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.3% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, component mounting prescribed areas and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 39 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1986 5 Series fails 22.5% of the time in the 60-90k band and 21.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 23.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 94 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.2% | 65 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 48 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.8% | 34 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 31 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 39 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 39 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 31 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 25 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 6 | Washers | 23 |
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 | 23.9% | 169 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.5% | 159 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 17.8% | 126 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 93 |
| 5 | Steering | 11.5% | 81 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.5% | 67 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 138 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 156 | 15.4% |
| 120-150k | 194 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 181 | 21.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 153 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 162 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 139 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 125 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 127 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 1986 5 Series
On a 1986 5 Series, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1986 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 706 1986 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 BMW 5 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by suspension (9.2%).
Does the 1986 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.5% in the 60-90k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 706 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.