1990 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 501 MOT tests, the 1990 BMW 5 Series recorded a 78.4% pass rate. That is 3.2 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 18.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.6%) and lighting & signalling (10.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1990 5 Series fails 20.8% of the time in the 60-90k band and 23.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.1 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.6% | 63 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 54 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 37 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.2% | 26 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 24 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 33 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 26 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 19 |
| 5 | Washers | 17 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 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 | 31.5% | 158 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.9% | 155 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.4% | 102 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.4% | 87 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 79 |
| 6 | Tyres | 15.0% | 75 |
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 | 53 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 107 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 127 | 23.6% |
| 150k+ | 172 | 23.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 105 | 20.9% |
| 2023 | 103 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 82 | 19.5% |
| 2025 | 97 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 1990 5 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 12.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (12.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.4% 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 1990 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
78.4% of the 501 1990 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 BMW 5 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.8%).
Does the 1990 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.8% in the 60-90k band to 23.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 501 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.