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Austin Morris Mini 850 Super Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Austin Morris Mini 850 Super car check

Is the Austin Morris Mini 850 Super reliable? We analysed 1,726 real MOT tests across 218 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,726 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
64.1%
Typical Mileage
60,110mi
Annual Mileage
587mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
47yrs

The Austin Morris Mini 850 Super is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Austin Morris Mini 850 Super.

Austin Morris Mini 850 Super Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Austin Morris Mini 850 Super. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Austin Morris Mini 850 Super MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Austin Morris Mini 850 Super to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

62.2%
1981
63.3%
1980
65.5%
1979

Austin Morris Mini 850 Super Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Austin Morris Mini 850 Super fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 152
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 121
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 100
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 93
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 91
brake recording little or no effort 85
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 70
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 66
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 63
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 63

Austin Morris Mini 850 Super Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Austin Morris Mini 850 Super owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
166 mi/yr
Typical
587 mi/yr
Average
2,000 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,968 mi/yr

Austin Morris Mini 850 Super MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Austin Morris Mini 850 Super year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1981 135 62.2% 48,457 65,710 87,239
1980 911 63.3% 36,904 60,350 77,156
1979 678 65.5% 35,690 58,352 80,730

How Long Does a Austin Morris Mini 850 Super Last?

Based on 218 Austin Morris Mini 850 Super vehicles on UK roads.

Average
33.1 years
Median
33.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
47 years

Austin Morris Mini 850 Super Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Austin Morris Mini 850 Super MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
60,110 mi
75th Percentile
79,246 mi
95th Percentile
96,601 mi
Max Recorded
974,018 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Austin Morris Mini 850 Super

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1979

65.5% MOT pass rate from 678 tests

Year to avoid
1981

62.2% MOT pass rate from 135 tests

The best year to buy a used Austin Morris Mini 850 Super is 1979, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 65.5% across 678 tests. The 1981 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Austin Morris Mini 850 Super Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Austin Morris Mini 850 Super THIS CAR 64.1% 1,726 60,110 mi 47 yrs
Austin Morris Mini 1000 66.8% 9,311 55,689 mi 48 yrs
Austin Morris Mini Clubman 68.1% 7,434 52,622 mi 48 yrs
Austin Morris Mini Hl 65.3% 6,447 53,728 mi 46 yrs
Harley-davidson Street Bob Fxdb 1584 13 91.3% 762 11,119 mi 13 yrs

Compared to the Austin Morris Mini 1000 (66.8% pass rate) and the Austin Morris Mini Clubman (68.1% pass rate), the Austin Morris Mini 850 Super trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Austin Morris Mini 850 Super?

The Austin Morris Mini 850 Super has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.1% across 1,726 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Austin Morris Mini 850 Super are subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (152 recorded failures), exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (121), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (100). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Austin Morris Mini 850 Super owner drives around 587 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Austin Morris Mini 850 Super models stay on UK roads for around 47 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Austin Morris Mini 850 Super — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Austin Morris Mini 850 Super reliable?
Based on 1,726 MOT tests, the Austin Morris Mini 850 Super has a 64.1% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Austin Morris Mini 850 Super?
The most common MOT failures are subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Austin Morris Mini 850 Super do per year?
The typical Austin Morris Mini 850 Super does around 587 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Austin Morris Mini 850 Super last?
Most Austin Morris Mini 850 Super models stay on UK roads for around 47 years based on our analysis of 218 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Austin Morris Mini 850 Super?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Austin Morris Mini 850 Super?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Austin Morris Mini 850 Super is 1979 with a 65.5% pass rate across 678 tests.