Enfield Bullet 500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Enfield Bullet 500 car check
Is the Enfield Bullet 500 reliable? We analysed 5,505 real MOT tests across 791 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Enfield Bullet 500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Enfield Bullet 500 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on and headlamp aim too high. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Enfield Bullet 500.
Enfield Bullet 500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Enfield Bullet 500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Enfield Bullet 500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Enfield Bullet 500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Enfield Bullet 500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Enfield Bullet 500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Enfield Bullet 500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Enfield Bullet 500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Enfield Bullet 500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Enfield Bullet 500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 133 | 94.0% | 1,938 | 4,427 | 7,491 |
| 2009 | 169 | 85.8% | 2,021 | 4,092 | 6,818 |
| 2008 | 578 | 90.5% | 2,163 | 4,894 | 9,168 |
| 2007 | 421 | 86.7% | 1,961 | 5,942 | 9,757 |
| 2006 | 560 | 90.0% | 1,919 | 4,978 | 8,074 |
| 2005 | 603 | 88.7% | 2,311 | 4,678 | 9,229 |
| 2004 | 410 | 89.8% | 2,361 | 4,676 | 9,891 |
| 2003 | 492 | 88.0% | 2,369 | 7,911 | 14,549 |
| 2002 | 667 | 88.6% | 3,596 | 8,977 | 17,567 |
| 2001 | 427 | 89.2% | 3,013 | 6,879 | 14,554 |
| 2000 | 146 | 84.2% | 5,320 | 11,850 | 26,376 |
| 1999 | 60 | 85.0% | 1,527 | 5,577 | 7,396 |
| 1997 | 63 | 93.7% | 7,952 | 10,902 | 14,674 |
| 1996 | 83 | 83.1% | 4,097 | 7,106 | 9,226 |
| 1995 | 97 | 85.6% | 3,302 | 5,983 | 7,646 |
| 1994 | 64 | 92.2% | 6,985 | 8,404 | 10,560 |
| 1993 | 95 | 95.8% | 6,124 | 10,626 | 27,682 |
| 1992 | 89 | 83.1% | 6,630 | 13,211 | 17,044 |
| 1991 | 52 | 73.1% | 10,768 | 14,406 | 22,436 |
| 1990 | 62 | 82.3% | 4,598 | 8,960 | 14,246 |
How Long Does a Enfield Bullet 500 Last?
Based on 791 Enfield Bullet 500 vehicles on UK roads.
Enfield Bullet 500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Enfield Bullet 500 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 Enfield Bullet 500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
95.8% MOT pass rate from 95 tests
73.1% MOT pass rate from 52 tests
The best year to buy a used Enfield Bullet 500 is 1993, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.8% across 95 tests. The 1991 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Enfield Bullet 500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enfield Bullet 500 THIS CAR | 88.5% | 5,505 | 6,083 mi | 36 yrs |
| Enfield 350 | 88.6% | 2,688 | 6,364 mi | 37 yrs |
| Enfield Bullet 350 | 90% | 2,308 | 5,575 mi | 37 yrs |
| Enfield Bullet | 89.7% | 1,482 | 7,119 mi | 34 yrs |
| Suzuki Alto SZ3 | 86.8% | 3,029 | 54,175 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Enfield 350 (88.6% pass rate) and the Enfield Bullet 350 (90.0% pass rate), the Enfield Bullet 500 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Enfield Bullet 500 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 Enfield Bullet 500Should you buy a used Enfield Bullet 500?
The Enfield Bullet 500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.5% across 5,505 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 Enfield Bullet 500 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (58 recorded failures), position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on (22), and headlamp aim too high (21). 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 Enfield Bullet 500 owner drives around 311 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 Enfield Bullet 500 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.