BMW 5 Series Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The BMW 5 Series passes its MOT first time on 77.3% of tests, 10.4 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (67.0%). That puts it ahead of 92% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2015 5 Series does best (beats 98% of cars) and the 2004 worst (beats 84%).

Of its engines, the 3.0 Diesel does best (beats 96%) and the 2.5 Petrol worst (beats 80%).

Better than average on suspension, lights & electrics, brakes.

Watch these weak spots

Wheels2.2×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

BMW 5 SeriesTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 56%

Beats 57%

Beats 52%

Beats 62%

Beats 67%

Beats 76%

Beats 80%

Beats 83%

Beats 84%

Beats 87%

Beats 88%

Beats 92%

Beats 95%

Beats 95%

Beats 94%

Beats 92%

Beats 90%

Beats 94%

Beats 98%

Beats 98%

Beats 97%

Beats 94%

Beats 93%

Beats 91%

Beats 85%

Beats 77%

Beats 70%

Beats 94%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	2005–2020	995,057	78.4%	Beats 93%	A
3.0 Diesel	2003–2020	329,660	78.0%	Beats 96%	A
2.0 Hybrid	2017–2023	74,337	86.1%	Beats 87%	A
2.5 Diesel	2001–2010	71,705	64.7%	Beats 86%	A
3.0 Petrol	2001–2019	62,719	74.5%	Beats 91%	A
2.5 Petrol	1997–2009	61,835	63.6%	Beats 80%	B
2.0 Petrol	1995–2020	56,732	85.0%	Beats 90%	A
2.9 Diesel	1999–2010	29,691	62.7%	Beats 83%	A
2.0 Diesel hybrid	2019–2022	27,360	87.3%	Beats 77%	B
2.2 Petrol	2001–2004	16,260	60.0%	Beats 73%	B
4.4 Petrol	2004–2021	12,508	89.6%	Beats 98%	A
2.8 Petrol	1997–2000	10,694	58.9%	Beats 62%	B
3.0 Diesel hybrid	2020–2022	5,470	85.2%	Beats 51%	C

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Tyres: 7.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres

7.5% vs 7.5%

Suspension

6.7% vs 11.0%

Lights & electrics

6.6% vs 14.4%

Brakes

4.4% vs 8.6%

Visibility

3.1% vs 5.4%

Steering

1.6% vs 2.4%

Emissions & leaks

1.5% vs 3.9%

Seat belts & airbags

1.2% vs 1.4%

Wheels

1.1% vs 0.5%

Body & structure

0.9% vs 4.2%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
Tyre tread depth
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Coil springs
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
Windscreen washers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
Sidelights
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

BMW 5 SeriesTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Tyre damage & cracking	4.5%	3.8%	1.2×
Tyre tread depth	2.8%	3.3%	0.8×
Headlight aim	2.2%	3.9%	0.6×
Coil springs	2.1%	2.6%	0.8×
Windscreen washers	1.6%	2.5%	0.7×
Sidelights	1.5%	3.6%	0.4×
Headlight bulbs & units	1.5%	2.7%	0.6×
Brake pads	1.3%	2.5%	0.5×
Track rod ends	1.2%	1.7%	0.7×
Handbrake performance	1.2%	1.9%	0.6×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	27.7
A tyre seriously damaged	24.0
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	21.7
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	21.3
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	21.2
A tyre cords visible or damaged	21.0
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	16.3
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	15.6

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 BMW 5 Series1 engine89.6% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Hybrid	1,159	89.6%	Beats 94%	A

2022 BMW 5 Series3 engines87.3% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Hybrid	4,892	89.0%	Beats 90%	A
2.0 Diesel hybrid	4,528	86.7%	Beats 60%	C
3.0 Diesel hybrid	1,530	83.5%	Beats 23%	D

2021 BMW 5 Series4 engines87.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Hybrid	6,140	89.5%	Beats 94%	A
2.0 Diesel hybrid	5,806	85.9%	Beats 59%	C
3.0 Diesel hybrid	2,451	85.4%	Beats 57%	C
4.4 Petrol	1,644	92.0%	Beats 94%	A

2020 BMW 5 Series7 engines88.2% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel hybrid	14,701	87.9%	Beats 84%	A
2.0 Petrol	4,961	90.3%	Beats 92%	A
2.0 Hybrid	4,851	87.1%	Beats 83%	A
3.0 Diesel	4,266	87.8%	Beats 82%	A
3.0 Diesel hybrid	1,489	86.6%	Beats 68%	B
4.4 Petrol	1,450	92.0%	Beats 96%	A
2.0 Diesel	1,317	87.8%	Beats 83%	A

2019 BMW 5 Series7 engines87.9% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	28,211	87.9%	Beats 94%	A
2.0 Hybrid	18,200	86.0%	Beats 87%	A
2.0 Petrol	14,345	89.6%	Beats 94%	A
3.0 Diesel	7,454	85.9%	Beats 77%	B
4.4 Petrol	5,279	93.3%	Beats 99%	A
3.0 Petrol	2,724	84.6%	Beats 44%	C
2.0 Diesel hybrid	2,325	88.6%	Beats 94%	A

2018 BMW 5 Series6 engines87.3% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	46,528	88.3%	Beats 97%	A
2.0 Hybrid	30,098	85.1%	Beats 85%	A
3.0 Diesel	13,228	85.9%	Beats 86%	A
2.0 Petrol	13,211	89.5%	Beats 96%	A
3.0 Petrol	6,562	86.7%	Beats 81%	A
4.4 Petrol	2,659	92.8%	Beats 99%	A

2017 BMW 5 Series5 engines86.5% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	62,754	87.2%	Beats 97%	A
3.0 Diesel	21,024	85.4%	Beats 89%	A
2.0 Hybrid	8,997	84.5%	Beats 87%	A
3.0 Petrol	6,968	85.8%	Beats 79%	B
2.0 Petrol	5,012	88.3%	Beats 94%	A

2016 BMW 5 Series3 engines86.5% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	100,264	86.3%	Beats 97%	A
3.0 Diesel	20,843	87.2%	Beats 98%	A
2.0 Petrol	2,080	88.4%	Beats 97%	A

2015 BMW 5 Series4 engines85.6% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	120,242	85.3%	Beats 98%	A
3.0 Diesel	27,391	86.7%	Beats 99%	A
2.0 Petrol	3,976	88.4%	Beats 99%	A
3.0 Petrol	1,261	89.8%	Beats 99%	A

2014 BMW 5 Series3 engines83.0% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	118,174	82.5%	Beats 97%	A
3.0 Diesel	23,507	84.9%	Beats 99%	A
2.0 Petrol	2,426	87.1%	Beats 99%	A

2013 BMW 5 Series4 engines78.3% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	111,601	77.6%	Beats 92%	A
3.0 Diesel	15,780	82.5%	Beats 99%	A
2.0 Petrol	2,154	81.0%	Beats 92%	A
3.0 Petrol	1,035	84.0%	Beats 98%	A

2012 BMW 5 Series4 engines74.8% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	108,642	73.8%	Beats 88%	A
3.0 Diesel	17,656	79.7%	Beats 98%	A
2.0 Petrol	1,974	81.2%	Beats 97%	A
3.0 Petrol	1,452	81.8%	Beats 98%	A

2011 BMW 5 Series3 engines73.4% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	88,474	72.3%	Beats 89%	A
3.0 Diesel	22,223	77.2%	Beats 97%	A
3.0 Petrol	3,272	78.2%	Beats 96%	A

2010 BMW 5 Series5 engines72.9% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	48,790	70.9%	Beats 90%	A
3.0 Diesel	27,757	75.7%	Beats 97%	A
3.0 Petrol	3,656	77.5%	Beats 97%	A
2.5 Diesel	2,117	74.7%	Beats 96%	A
2.9 Diesel	1,263	75.7%	Beats 97%	A

2009 BMW 5 Series5 engines71.8% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	46,227	70.3%	Beats 92%	A
3.0 Diesel	17,709	75.3%	Beats 98%	A
2.5 Diesel	4,428	72.4%	Beats 95%	A
2.5 Petrol	2,451	73.4%	Beats 94%	A
3.0 Petrol	1,536	75.1%	Beats 97%	A

2008 BMW 5 Series5 engines70.7% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	38,537	68.5%	Beats 91%	A
3.0 Diesel	23,231	73.6%	Beats 98%	A
2.5 Diesel	6,682	70.7%	Beats 95%	A
2.5 Petrol	3,362	72.9%	Beats 95%	A
3.0 Petrol	2,817	74.8%	Beats 98%	A

2007 BMW 5 Series5 engines68.3% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	40,100	64.8%	Beats 84%	A
3.0 Diesel	27,815	72.0%	Beats 97%	A
2.5 Diesel	9,954	68.5%	Beats 92%	A
2.5 Petrol	4,452	71.7%	Beats 95%	A
3.0 Petrol	3,644	74.9%	Beats 98%	A

2006 BMW 5 Series5 engines65.8% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	27,671	62.1%	Beats 79%	B
3.0 Diesel	23,921	69.1%	Beats 94%	A
2.5 Diesel	12,858	65.4%	Beats 88%	A
2.5 Petrol	6,380	68.3%	Beats 92%	A
3.0 Petrol	3,009	70.7%	Beats 95%	A

2005 BMW 5 Series6 engines64.5% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
3.0 Diesel	22,078	67.2%	Beats 93%	A
2.5 Diesel	16,697	62.4%	Beats 83%	A
2.0 Diesel	7,525	60.2%	Beats 76%	B
2.5 Petrol	6,585	64.9%	Beats 86%	A
3.0 Petrol	3,283	67.5%	Beats 92%	A
2.9 Diesel	1,693	63.7%	Beats 85%	A

2004 BMW 5 Series7 engines62.8% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
3.0 Diesel	11,222	64.7%	Beats 90%	A
2.5 Diesel	8,610	60.8%	Beats 81%	A
2.5 Petrol	6,706	61.4%	Beats 79%	B
3.0 Petrol	4,937	63.8%	Beats 85%	A
2.9 Diesel	4,801	63.7%	Beats 87%	A
2.2 Petrol	3,566	60.2%	Beats 75%	B
4.4 Petrol	1,476	65.9%	Beats 89%	A

2003 BMW 5 Series6 engines62.4% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.9 Diesel	7,603	63.6%	Beats 87%	A
3.0 Petrol	5,963	65.2%	Beats 88%	A
2.2 Petrol	5,054	59.9%	Beats 74%	B
2.5 Petrol	4,575	63.0%	Beats 82%	A
2.5 Diesel	4,365	58.8%	Beats 75%	B
3.0 Diesel	2,555	62.1%	Beats 85%	A

2002 BMW 5 Series5 engines61.7% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.9 Diesel	6,612	62.6%	Beats 84%	A
3.0 Petrol	5,932	64.4%	Beats 86%	A
2.5 Petrol	5,537	62.2%	Beats 80%	A
2.5 Diesel	4,449	57.9%	Beats 72%	B
2.2 Petrol	4,350	59.9%	Beats 73%	B

2001 BMW 5 Series5 engines60.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.5 Petrol	6,065	61.5%	Beats 77%	B
3.0 Petrol	4,668	63.4%	Beats 82%	A
2.9 Diesel	3,411	59.0%	Beats 74%	B
2.2 Petrol	3,290	59.9%	Beats 71%	B
2.5 Diesel	1,545	56.2%	Beats 67%	B

2000 BMW 5 Series4 engines58.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.5 Petrol	5,286	58.3%	Beats 65%	B
2.8 Petrol	2,840	58.0%	Beats 64%	B
2.9 Diesel	2,664	59.2%	Beats 72%	B
2.0 Petrol	1,843	59.4%	Beats 68%	B

1999 BMW 5 Series4 engines58.1% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.5 Petrol	4,971	58.4%	Beats 63%	B
2.8 Petrol	3,305	58.2%	Beats 62%	B
2.0 Petrol	2,164	56.0%	Beats 56%	C
2.9 Diesel	1,644	59.2%	Beats 69%	B

1998 BMW 5 Series3 engines57.4% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.5 Petrol	3,796	56.1%	Beats 46%	C
2.8 Petrol	2,979	59.9%	Beats 62%	B
2.0 Petrol	1,548	55.7%	Beats 45%	C

1997 BMW 5 Series2 engines60.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.5 Petrol	1,669	60.1%	Beats 56%	C
2.8 Petrol	1,570	60.3%	Beats 58%	C

1995 BMW 5 Series1 engine62.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	1,038	62.6%	Beats 56%	C

FAQ

What is the BMW 5 Series MOT pass rate?

77.3% of MOT tests on the BMW 5 Series were passed first time, based on 1,754,028 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1995–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 67.0% of the time.

Is the BMW 5 Series reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 92% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which BMW 5 Series year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2015 5 Series does best for its age and mileage: it beats 98% of cars on UK roads. The 2004 does worst: it beats 84%.

Which BMW 5 Series engine is best?

Across all years, the 3.0 Diesel does best: it beats 96% of cars on UK roads. The 2.5 Petrol does worst: it beats 80%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the BMW 5 Series?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth, headlight aim.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

BMW 5 Series reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ