1993 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 847 MOT tests, the 1993 BMW 5 Series recorded a 78.3% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (20.4% fail rate), the 1993 5 Series comes out 1.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.8%) and suspension (11.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 77 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.2% versus 29.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.2% in 2021 to 19.7% 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% | 100 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.5% | 97 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 68 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 65 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 50 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.8% | 41 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 77 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 61 |
| 3 | Wipers | 44 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 38 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 30 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 30 |
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 | 38.7% | 328 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.8% | 269 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.8% | 176 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.6% | 166 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.2% | 163 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 116 |
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 | 57 | 29.8% |
| 30-60k | 57 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 90 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 164 | 20.1% |
| 120-150k | 149 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 274 | 25.2% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 750 | 21.5% |
| Diesel | 97 | 23.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 218 | 25.2% |
| 2022 | 180 | 20.6% |
| 2023 | 170 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 147 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 132 | 19.7% |
What to check before buying a 1993 5 Series
On a 1993 5 Series, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (11.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (8.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1993 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 847 1993 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 BMW 5 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by suspension (11.5%).
Does the 1993 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.8% in the 0-30k band to 25.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 847 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.