Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1993 Alfa Romeo 155?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1993 Alfa Romeo 155?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1993 Alfa Romeo 155?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1993 Alfa Romeo 155 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 204 vehicles, the 1993 Alfa Romeo 155 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 61.2%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1993 Alfa Romeo 155?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1993 Alfa Romeo 155 are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (65.1% of vehicles), Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (35.6% of vehicles), Service brake: efficiency below requirements (30.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1993 Alfa Romeo 155?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Alfa Romeo 155 (1993)

204 real MOT outcomes analysed • 61.2% first-time pass rate

1993 Alfa Romeo 155

CarHunch analysed 204 real MOT records for the 1993 Alfa Romeo 155. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1993 Alfa Romeo 155 is a significant step down from the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 61.2% against the national benchmark of 80%. Nearly one in five of these cars (18.6%) have been flagged with a dangerous defect at some point, which is a real concern for safety-conscious buyers.

These are elderly vehicles averaging around 107,000 miles, and they're failing because of genuine mechanical issues—each car records 1.75 failures on average. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the electrical gremlins and rust-prone bodywork that plague Alfas of this age; a low MOT pass rate at this mileage suggests the survivors need proper maintenance to stay roadworthy.

We have limited data for the 1993 Alfa Romeo 155 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

61.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

18.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.75

Over 4.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

107k

Middle half: 89k–130k

For context

These stats describe 204 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 204 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 65.1%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Exhaust & emissions 35.6%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits · Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive · …

Other issues 17.7%

Oil leak

Tyre wear 17.3%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Wipers & washers 13.3%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Lighting 11.6%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1993.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 204 Alfa Romeo 155 cars.

Before you buy a 1993 Alfa Romeo 155

Based on MOT data from 204 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	202	61.2%	1.76

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,428 Alfa Romeo 155 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 50%

1,213

Blue 13.1%

318

Black 12.5%

304

Grey 9.1%

222

Green 6%

146

Silver 3.4%

Purple 2.9%

Gold 1.5%

White 1.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1993 Alfa Romeo 155 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

107,134

typical

88,771

low mileage

129,802

high mileage

Half of all 1993 Alfa Romeo 155 vehicles fall between 88,771 and 129,802 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 88,771 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 88,771–129,802 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1993 Alfa Romeo 155s sit.

⚠ Over 175,232 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1993 Alfa Romeo 155 — Still on the Road

Almost all 1993 Alfa Romeo 155s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 12 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2017, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2017.

MOT History Averages

4.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.75

Avg failures per vehicle

4.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Alfa Romeo 155: All 155 years → Which year to buy? →

1994 1995 1996 1997

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Buyer beware — pass it on