Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 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 1989 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 1989 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 1989 MG Metro?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1989 MG Metro are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (35.9% of vehicles), Offside Rear fog lamp not working (16% of vehicles), Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (16% 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 1989 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 (1989)

7,322 real MOT outcomes analysed

1989 MG Metro

CarHunch has 7,322 1989 MG Metro vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

On this page

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

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1989 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 7,322 1989 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 7,322 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 35.9%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive · Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive · Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Lighting 16%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

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

Tyre wear 15.7%

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

Other issues 14.6%

Oil leak

Brake wear 13.6%

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

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

Suspension & steering 13.2%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play · …

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989.

Before you buy a 1989 MG Metro

Based on MOT data from 7,322 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0.3% 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%

1989 MG Metro — Still on the Road

28 vehicles from this cohort appeared in light-vehicle MOT records in 2025 — a small subset of the registered total, likely lighter variants or specialist conversions tested as light vehicles.

Based on vehicles from this cohort that appeared in the DVLA light-vehicle MOT database. Most vehicles of this type are tested under the separate DVSA HGV annual testing regime and are not counted here. Data from 2014–2025.

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

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1990

Or browse all models: MG →

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