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MOT reliability

Bmw 5 series

120,797 vehicles · 942,904 completed MOT tests analysed
81%
MOT pass rate

Based on 120,797 Bmw 5 series vehicles and 942,904 completed MOT tests, the Bmw 5 series has an overall 81% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 109,888 miles.

120,797
Vehicles
942,904
MOT tests
9,997
Avg miles / year
1.4
Faults per test
3%
Dangerous-fault share

Bmw 5 series problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Bmw 5 series MOT tests:

  • Other63%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension27%
  • Brakes10%
  • Lamps & electrical3%
  • Emissions & nuisance3%
  • Visibility3%
  • Steering2%
  • Seatbelts & equipment1%

Bmw 5 series pass rate by age

How the Bmw 5 series's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
11,03395%
26,44692%
3111,45888%
4102,65988%
599,64487%
697,50785%
787,43383%
870,64880%
954,39577%
1048,95875%
1148,78674%
1247,13673%
1340,70872%
1430,30370%
1523,57469%
1619,26369%
1715,19369%
1811,27368%
197,73368%
204,99269%

Fuel types: Diesel (62,922), Petrol (42,565), Hybrid Electric (Clean) (15,123), Electric Diesel (98), LPG (80), Electric (6), Other (3)

Most common Bmw 5 series MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Bmw 5 series MOT tests:

  1. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (27,522 times)
  2. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (27,418 times)
  3. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (24,018 times)
  4. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (23,774 times)
  5. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (15,664 times)
  6. Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (15,433 times)
  7. Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (14,921 times)
  8. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (14,158 times)
  9. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (13,497 times)
  10. Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) (11,602 times)
  11. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)) (10,821 times)
  12. Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (9,513 times)
  13. Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) (9,244 times)
  14. Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) (9,114 times)
  15. Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) (8,818 times)

Bmw 5 series pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2024 2 2 100% 24,223
2023 737 1,195 93% 41,447
2022 1,819 3,872 92% 44,450
2021 1,624 5,177 91% 53,451
2020 4,062 16,786 90% 55,118
2019 15,427 80,600 89% 66,819
2018 19,934 121,079 89% 76,078
2017 15,708 104,772 89% 83,544
2016 59 358 85% 76,056
2015 104 751 89% 83,033
2014 295 2,744 88% 105,341
2013 7,683 85,947 82% 125,927
2012 7,890 93,095 82% 133,571
2011 1,804 20,975 81% 138,524
2010 1,267 15,386 81% 141,920
2009 1,367 18,449 79% 148,749
2008 2,032 26,793 79% 151,802
2007 2,194 32,185 78% 160,208
2006 2,204 33,873 76% 159,311
2005 1,648 23,964 76% 153,852
2004 1,898 25,181 76% 142,598
2003 1,555 20,592 76% 139,701
2002 1,524 19,461 75% 145,381
2001 1,818 21,114 73% 141,928
2000 1,896 20,962 70% 146,816
1999 2,185 21,461 69% 149,098
1998 2,963 24,454 69% 147,672
1997 2,722 19,632 67% 146,794
1996 2,293 14,484 67% 147,969
1995 2,249 12,355 67% 151,382
1994 2,205 11,738 65% 156,347
1993 2,027 9,817 64% 144,925
1992 1,818 8,030 65% 153,707
1991 1,442 6,084 66% 153,777
1990 1,464 5,832 65% 152,484
1989 1,218 4,928 66% 152,606
1988 591 2,344 64% 155,809
1987 364 2,219 67% 150,689
1986 317 1,947 69% 139,300
1985 226 1,444 70% 140,375
1984 32 144 69% 121,175
1983 25 90 69% 140,399
1982 20 109 77% 116,190
1981 45 282 72% 113,996
1980 14 110 76% 118,285
1979 3 9 67% 88,668
1978 2 20 60% 111,542
1977 1 5 40% 62,002
1976 2 5 80% 84,051
1974 1 5 40% 48,141
1973 1 2 50% 91,485
1971 8 29 76% 151,206

Bmw 5 series reliability FAQ

Across 120,797 Bmw 5 series vehicles in our MOT data, 81% pass the MOT (a 19% failure rate), with about 1.4 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Bmw 5 series MOT issues are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)); Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)); Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1).

The typical Bmw 5 series in our data has covered around 109,888 miles.

Compare the Bmw 5 series

See how the Bmw 5 series stacks up against other Bmw models on MOT reliability:

5 series vs 3 series 5 series vs 118 5 series vs 316 5 series vs 520

Check a specific Bmw 5 series

Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.

See all Bmw models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks