Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 BMW 518?

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 1987 BMW 518?

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 1987 BMW 518?

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 1987 BMW 518 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 214 vehicles, the 1987 BMW 518 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 63.7%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 BMW 518?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 BMW 518 are: Oil leak (20.5% of vehicles), Fuel pipe/s corroded (18.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (17.5% 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 1987 BMW 518?

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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BMW 518 (1987)

214 real MOT outcomes analysed • 63.7% first-time pass rate

1987 BMW 518

CarHunch analysed 214 real MOT records for the 1987 BMW 518. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1987 BMW 518 — 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

63.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

19.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.99

Over 5.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

127k

Middle half: 101k–161k

For context

These stats describe 214 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 214 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 20.5%

Oil leak · Fuel pipe/s corroded · Oil leak, but not excessive · …

Tyre wear 17.5%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear 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.

Exhaust & emissions 17.5%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive

Lighting 16.9%

Offside Stop lamp not working

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

Suspension & steering 15.2%

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 12.5%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 214 BMW 518 cars.

Before you buy a 1987 BMW 518

Based on MOT data from 214 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.2% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 13,377 BMW 518 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 18.4%

2,462

Red 18%

2,402

White 16.6%

2,224

Black 16.6%

2,216

Green 10.1%

1,346

Silver 8.7%

1,164

Grey 6.7%

898

Brown 1.5%

206

Bronze 1.5%

205

Beige 0.9%

121

Gold 0.6%

Yellow 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 BMW 518 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.

127,246

typical

101,460

low mileage

161,215

high mileage

Half of all 1987 BMW 518 vehicles fall between 101,460 and 161,215 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 101,460 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.

✓ 101,460–161,215 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 BMW 518s sit.

⚠ Over 217,640 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1987 BMW 518 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 49% of 1987 BMW 518s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 17 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.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

5.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.99

Avg failures per vehicle

6.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 518: All 518 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on