BMW Unknown (1987)

229 real MOT outcomes analysed • 2.6% first-time pass rate

1987 BMW Unknown

CarHunch analysed 229 real MOT records for the 1987 BMW Unknown. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 77.4% below UK average
2.6%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
60,776
typical mileage
58,109–68,451 middle half
0%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0
avg MOT failures per car
over 1 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1987 BMW 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 BMW 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 (82%) 187 2.7% 0
Diesel (18%) 41 0% 0
Other (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 BMW 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.

58,109
low mileage
60,776
typical
68,451
high mileage

Half of all 1987 BMW Unknown vehicles fall between 58,109 and 68,451 miles.

MOT History Averages

1
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0
Avg failures per vehicle
0
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1987 BMW Unknown

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

  • 25%
    Rear Seats Removed at time of test
  • 25%
    Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play
  • 25%
    Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play
  • 25%
    Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened
  • 25%
    Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated
  • 12.5%
    Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both nearside and offside inner sills
  • 12.5%
    Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases
  • 12.5%
    Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement N/s and o/s rear

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific BMW Unknown?

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

UK

Other model years — BMW Unknown:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2007 2011 2012 2014