1987 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 931 MOT tests, the 1987 BMW 5 Series recorded an 84.5% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 17.3% of the time, so this is 1.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests against 6.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — stop lamp alone was recorded 52 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.6% in the 30-60k band and 18.6% in the 150k+ band, a 8.0-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.0% in 2021 to 10.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 110 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.8% | 63 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.4% | 50 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 35 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 31 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 52 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 41 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 31 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 27 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 26 |
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 | 22.8% | 212 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.6% | 164 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 120 |
| 4 | Tyres | 11.0% | 102 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.4% | 97 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.8% | 63 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 47 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 148 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 242 | 15.3% |
| 120-150k | 211 | 14.7% |
| 150k+ | 258 | 18.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 193 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 190 | 18.4% |
| 2023 | 186 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 188 | 15.4% |
| 2025 | 174 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a 1987 5 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.8% 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.
- Brakes (5.4% 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.
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 1987 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
84.5% of the 931 1987 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 BMW 5 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by suspension (6.8%).
Does the 1987 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 30-60k band to 18.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 931 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.