Bentley Unknown (1989)

105 real MOT outcomes analysed • 6.1% first-time pass rate

1989 Bentley Unknown

CarHunch analysed 105 real MOT records for the 1989 Bentley Unknown. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 73.9% below UK average
6.1%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
78,064
typical mileage
48,349–93,794 middle half
1.9%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.05
avg MOT failures per car
over 1.1 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1989 Bentley Unknown

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.
  • 📄 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 Unknown

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 (99%) 104 5.7% 0.04
Other (1%) 1 50% 1

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Bentley Unknown 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.

48,349
low mileage
78,064
typical
93,794
high mileage

Half of all 1989 Bentley Unknown vehicles fall between 48,349 and 93,794 miles.

MOT History Averages

1.1
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.05
Avg failures per vehicle
0.1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Bentley Unknown

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 60%
    Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value
  • 40%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing very badly perished
  • 40%
    Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing very slightly perished
  • 40%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
  • 40%
    Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing perishing
  • 20%
    Brake lever has insufficient reserve travel
  • 20%
    Offside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security Sill to floor
  • 20%
    Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Bentley Unknown?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Bentley Unknown:

1987 1990 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025