Bentley Turbo (1989)
1989 Bentley Turbo
CarHunch analysed 241 real MOT records for the 1989 Bentley Turbo. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1989 Bentley Turbo falls short of the UK average with a 75.2% first-time MOT pass rate, and that gap widens when you consider that over a third of these cars (34%) have recorded dangerous defects during testing—a serious red flag for structural, brake, or safety system issues. This is a high-mileage cohort for a 35-year-old car, with a median of just over 90,500 miles, yet they're racking up an average of 3.17 failures and 13.2 advisories per test, suggesting these are cars running on borrowed time.
If you're considering one of these machines, budget heavily for deferred maintenance: the advisory count alone signals decades of accumulated wear on everything from trim to suspension. Have any Turbo you're serious about inspected by a specialist in pre-war Bentleys, not a general mechanic, and walk away if it's been stored long-term or shows signs of the dangerous defects that plague a third of the surviving fleet.
What to check before buying a 1989 Bentley Turbo
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 34% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Bentley Turbo
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 240 | 75.3% | 3.18 |
| Diesel (0%) | 1 | 60% | 2 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1989 Bentley Turbo vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1989 Bentley Turbo vehicles fall between 64,591 and 115,672 miles.
1989 Bentley Turbo — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 60 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (49% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Bentley Turbo
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
113.7%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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58.2%
Oil leak
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37.4%
Oil leak, but not excessive
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34.3%
Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play
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31.5%
Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play
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31.3%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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30.6%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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27%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Bentley Turbo?
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