BMW 850 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 850 car check
Is the BMW 850 reliable? We analysed 7,572 real MOT tests across 753 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 850? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 850 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 850.
BMW 850 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 850. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 850 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 850 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 850 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW 850 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW 850 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 850 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 850 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 850 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 93 | 75.3% | 83,740 | 94,808 | 107,887 |
| 1996 | 266 | 80.8% | 50,506 | 71,951 | 101,696 |
| 1995 | 523 | 76.5% | 61,713 | 84,469 | 102,225 |
| 1994 | 927 | 76.1% | 66,037 | 92,402 | 116,303 |
| 1993 | 1,259 | 76.4% | 80,646 | 106,019 | 131,840 |
| 1992 | 1,335 | 76.3% | 83,836 | 106,832 | 137,966 |
| 1991 | 2,789 | 73.0% | 85,264 | 115,939 | 143,569 |
| 1990 | 243 | 69.1% | 89,386 | 113,080 | 156,704 |
How Long Does a BMW 850 Last?
Based on 753 BMW 850 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 850 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 850 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 850
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
80.8% MOT pass rate from 266 tests
69.1% MOT pass rate from 243 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 850 is 1996, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.8% across 266 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 850 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 850 THIS CAR | 75.1% | 7,572 | 103,890 mi | 36 yrs |
| BMW 3 Series | 75.1% | 12,840,406 | 90,743 mi | 37 yrs |
| BMW 118 | 81.5% | 1,923,256 | 64,042 mi | 22 yrs |
| BMW X5 | 77% | 1,735,343 | 83,401 mi | 25 yrs |
| Mbk Ovetto | 74.7% | 6,361 | 7,380 mi | 28 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 850 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 850 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific BMW 850Should you buy a used BMW 850?
The BMW 850 has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.1% across 7,572 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the BMW 850 are brake pipe excessively corroded (253 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (219), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (216). 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 BMW 850 owner drives around 782 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 BMW 850 models stay on UK roads for around 36 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.