1989 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1989 BMW 5 Series passed 81.6% of its 560 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (17.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.1%) and suspension (9.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, wipers and washers — headlamp alone was recorded 23 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 3.3% in the 30-60k band and 23.0% in the 150k+ band, a 19.7-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.4% in 2021 to 13.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 51 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.1% | 51 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 44 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.2% | 29 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.8% | 27 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 23 |
| 2 | Wipers | 21 |
| 3 | Washers | 20 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 16 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 16 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.6% | 160 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.3% | 147 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.0% | 112 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.1% | 96 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.0% | 73 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.9% | 72 |
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 | 30 | 3.3% |
| 60-90k | 84 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 110 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 131 | 16.8% |
| 150k+ | 178 | 23.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 140 | 21.4% |
| 2022 | 128 | 21.1% |
| 2023 | 96 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 96 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 100 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 1989 5 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.1% 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 (7.9% 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 1989 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
81.6% of the 560 1989 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 BMW 5 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by suspension (9.1%).
Does the 1989 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.3% in the 30-60k band to 23.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 560 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.