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BMW R Series — Reliability by Year

23,527 vehicles · MOT data 1980–2016 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the BMW R Series was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year
2016
97.1% pass rate · 521 vehicles
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Lowest pass rate year
1994
87.5% pass rate · 394 vehicles
Year Pass rate Avg mileage Vehicles
2016
97.1%
15,225 mi 521
2013
94.9%
18,836 mi 2,122
2012
95.0%
19,259 mi 1,468
2011
94.8%
20,125 mi 1,280
2010
93.8%
21,544 mi 1,344
2009
93.5%
23,733 mi 1,047
2008
93.4%
22,979 mi 1,392
2007
92.7%
24,850 mi 1,383
2006
92.4%
24,226 mi 1,544
2005
92.0%
26,904 mi 1,755
2004
92.8%
24,996 mi 1,101
2003
91.8%
28,954 mi 1,263
2002
90.9%
31,466 mi 1,385
2001
90.0%
32,948 mi 1,012
2000
90.6%
35,196 mi 880
1999
89.4%
34,796 mi 628
1998
89.8%
29,493 mi 726
1997
88.4%
38,382 mi 594
1996
88.8%
44,526 mi 420
1995
89.0%
44,044 mi 381
1994
87.5%
45,121 mi 394
1993
87.9%
46,987 mi 250
1983
89.1%
35,839 mi 116
1982
89.7%
41,297 mi 133
1981
88.0%
43,420 mi 177
1980
88.6%
43,743 mi 211

Which year BMW R Series is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests.

Tests range from an average of 15,225 miles (newest year) to 46,987 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a BMW R Series.

See the buying guide →

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