In 2025, 72,230 BMW 5 Series cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 83% passed first time, compared with 77% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the 5 Series better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 39 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 3 years old, 90% of 5 Seriess passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 20 years, that figure is 70% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 4 to 20 years.
BMW 5 Series All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | 5 Series passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 2,222 | 90% | 88% | 40,056 |
| 4 years | 1,821 | 90% | 87% | 50,087 |
| 5 years | 4,066 | 88% | 86% | 51,809 |
| 6 years | 15,134 | 88% | 84% | 64,741 |
| 7 years | 18,449 | 86% | 81% | 74,696 |
| 8 years | 13,036 | 84% | 78% | 83,230 |
| 11 years | 208 | 82% | 69% | 103,594 |
| 12 years | 5,666 | 74% | 66% | 124,370 |
| 13 years | 5,637 | 73% | 63% | 130,174 |
| 14 years | 1,013 | 73% | 61% | 137,079 |
| 15 years | 589 | 76% | 59% | 141,157 |
| 16 years | 613 | 70% | 58% | 149,219 |
| 17 years | 682 | 74% | 57% | 155,697 |
| 18 years | 733 | 70% | 57% | 159,315 |
| 19 years | 619 | 70% | 57% | 161,091 |
| 20 years | 301 | 70% | 58% | 158,484 |
What fails most on a BMW 5 Series
The area that lets the 5 Series down most, relative to other cars, is road wheels: 1.5% of tests failed on it, 12.2 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on brakes and body and structure.
Share of 5 Series tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.5% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 2.6% |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | Tyres | 2.2% |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | Suspension | 2.1% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 1.8% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 1.4% |
What to check when buying a used 5 Series
Based on where the 5 Series fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Road wheels: Look for damaged rims and missing wheel nuts. More
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific 5 Series
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a 5 SeriesFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 5 Series?
In 2025, 83% of BMW 5 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 72,230 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 77%.
What do BMW 5 Series cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a tyre seriously damaged (3.5% of tests); tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (2.6% of tests); a tyre cords visible or damaged (2.2% of tests).
Other BMW models
BMW 3 Series (73%), BMW 118 (79%), BMW X1 (82%), BMW 116 (72%), BMW X3 (79%), BMW 1 Series (78%). All BMW models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.