Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 MG Metro?

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 MG Metro?

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 MG Metro?

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.

What are common problems with the 1987 MG Metro?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 MG Metro are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (41.5% of vehicles), Service brake: efficiency below requirements (18.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (16.3% 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 MG Metro?

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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MG Metro (1987)

11,805 real MOT outcomes analysed

1987 MG Metro

CarHunch has 11,805 1987 MG Metro vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Colour Breakdown Compare Models

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1987 MG Metro doesn't appear in DVLA light-vehicle MOT records — it may be exempt, registered as a different vehicle class, or an import not subject to UK MOT testing. We don't have reliability stats for this specific model, but you can browse other MG vehicles below.

Browse all MG models →

No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific MG Metro you're checking out?

The real detail is in the individual vehicle report — MOT history, AI Hunches, mileage timeline, and defect patterns for that specific reg.

MOT statistics not available

We have 11,805 1987 MG Metro vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

There are a few reasons this can happen:

Heavy commercial vehicle — trucks, buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes are tested under the DVSA annual HGV/PSV regime, which uses a separate database not included in our data source
Imported vehicles — vehicles registered abroad and recently brought to the UK may have no UK MOT history yet
MOT-exempt — vehicles manufactured before 1986 qualify under the 40-year rolling exemption; some specialist and agricultural vehicles are also exempt
Never used on public roads — some vehicles are registered but kept off-road and have never required an MOT

Check on the official DVSA service →

What tends to go wrong

Across 11,805 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 41.5%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive · Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive

Brake wear 18.3%

Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements

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

Suspension & steering 16.3%

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

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

Wipers & washers 15.2%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Other issues 14.2%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive

Tyre wear 10.4%

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

Lighting 10.4%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

Before you buy a 1987 MG Metro

Based on MOT data from 11,805 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0.1% 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 99,108 MG Metro vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 22.4%

22,170

Black 21.7%

21,521

Red 20.9%

20,729

Silver 14.2%

14,056

Blue 12.5%

12,425

Green 6.4%

6,368

Grey 1.5%

1,482

Orange 0.1%

120

Purple 0.1%

Yellow 0.1%

Cream 0.1%

Beige 0%

Other model years — MG Metro: All Metro years → Which year to buy? →

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990

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Compare with another model

See how the 1987 MG Metro stacks up against a rival.