1992 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
513 MOT tests on the 1992 BMW 5 Series are in this dataset, and 77.0% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (19.8% fail rate), the 1992 5 Series comes out 3.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.5%) and suspension (11.7%) 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, catalyst emissions and position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 32 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1992 5 Series fails 29.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 28.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.7% in 2021 to 19.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 69 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.7% | 60 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.8% | 40 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 33 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.2% | 32 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 32 |
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 | 32 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 28 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 26 |
| 4 | Wipers | 24 |
| 5 | Washers | 22 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
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 | 28.5% | 146 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.3% | 145 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.7% | 106 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.1% | 98 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.5% | 90 |
| 6 | Tyres | 17.0% | 87 |
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 | 31 | 29.0% |
| 30-60k | 30 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 79 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 121 | 14.9% |
| 120-150k | 72 | 26.4% |
| 150k+ | 138 | 28.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 112 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 118 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 99 | 18.2% |
| 2024 | 107 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 77 | 19.5% |
What to check before buying a 1992 5 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.7% 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.
- Visibility (7.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 1992 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 513 1992 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 BMW 5 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by suspension (11.7%).
Does the 1992 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.0% in the 0-30k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 513 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.