BMW 850
From 443 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a headlamp or light source missing and inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 10 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 10 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 9 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 8 |
| warning device shows system malfunction | 8 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 8 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 6 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 6 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 6 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 5 |
| any fracture or welding defect on a wheel | 4 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 15.7% of 850 failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £80.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 84.3% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
Typical mileage
Half of all 850s tested had between 47,186 and 116,122 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 78,588 median miles, the 850 has 0.016 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
Common questions
What is the BMW 850 MOT pass rate?
The BMW 850 has a 87.8% MOT pass rate based on 443 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 850?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 850 is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 10 failures. Other common issues include a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 850 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 850 is 78,588 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 47,186 and 116,122 miles.
Buying a used 850?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.