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BMW M5 reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 31,752 MOT tests of cars first registered 2000–2016.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
85.8%pass first time
+18.1 ptsvs typical car
Beats 100%of cars
31,752MOT tests

Verdict

The BMW M5 passes its MOT first time on 85.8% of tests, 18.1 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (67.7%). That puts it ahead of 100% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2007 M5 does best (beats 100% of cars) and the 2016 worst (beats 99%).

Of its engines, the 5.0 Petrol does best (beats 100%) and the 4.4 Petrol worst (beats 99%).

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

Watch these weak spots

Number plates1.6×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.

50%60%70%80%90%100%45678910111213141718192091%88%89%87%86%81%81%79%
BMW M5Typical 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.

2000
Beats 99%
2001
Beats 100%
2002
Beats 100%
2005
Beats 100%
2006
Beats 100%
2007
Beats 100%
2012
Beats 100%
2013
Beats 99%
2014
Beats 100%
2015
Beats 99%
2016
Beats 99%

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.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.4 Petrol2012–201618,41188.7%Beats 99%A
5.0 Petrol2005–20077,28284.3%Beats 100%A
4.9 Petrol2000–20026,05978.9%Beats 100%A

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.

Exhaust: 2.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 3.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 3.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 13.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 3.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% 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.Brakes: 2.7% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 3.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 13.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+10.2 ptsTyres: 3.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% 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.Tyres+2.7 ptsBrakes: 2.7% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+5.6 ptsSuspension: 3.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+7.1 ptsExhaust: 2.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.7 ptsSuspension: 3.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 2.7% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 3.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% 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.Lights: 3.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 13.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 2.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 3.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 13.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+10.2 ptsTyres: 3.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% 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.Tyres+2.7 ptsBrakes: 2.7% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+5.6 ptsSuspension: 3.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+7.1 ptsExhaust: 2.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.7 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Exhaust: 2.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.

Every MOT area

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

Tyres
3.6% vs 6.4%
Suspension
3.4% vs 10.5%
Lights & electrics
3.4% vs 13.6%
Brakes
2.7% vs 8.3%
Emissions & leaks
2.2% vs 3.9%
Visibility
2.2% vs 5.6%
Seat belts & airbags
0.8% vs 1.5%
Body & structure
0.5% vs 4.6%
Steering
0.5% vs 2.3%
Wheels
0.3% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Windscreen washers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Coil springs
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)
    Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems.
  • 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.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%100%10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k93%90%87%85%84%81%
BMW M5Typical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking2.5%3.4%0.7×
Headlight aim1.4%3.8%0.4×
Windscreen washers1.4%2.4%0.6×
Coil springs1.2%2.5%0.5×
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)1.2%1.5%0.8×
Tyre tread depth0.9%2.6%0.3×
Engine warning light0.8%1.2%0.7×
Brake pipes0.7%1.3%0.5×
Number plates0.7%0.4%1.6×
Windscreen wipers0.6%2.7%0.2×

Specific defects found

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

Defectper 1,000
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements13.9
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen13.8
A tyre seriously damaged13.4
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened12.4
A tyre cords visible or damaged12.0
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc9.7
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements8.8
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction8.8
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.

2016 BMW M51 engine90.2% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.4 Petrol3,15090.2%Beats 99%A
2015 BMW M51 engine89.3% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.4 Petrol3,45489.3%Beats 99%A
2014 BMW M51 engine89.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.4 Petrol4,22089.4%Beats 100%A
2013 BMW M51 engine87.2% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.4 Petrol4,63987.2%Beats 99%A
2012 BMW M51 engine87.8% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.4 Petrol2,94887.8%Beats 100%A
2007 BMW M51 engine86.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
5.0 Petrol2,26586.1%Beats 100%A
2006 BMW M51 engine83.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
5.0 Petrol2,57383.4%Beats 100%A
2005 BMW M51 engine83.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
5.0 Petrol2,44483.6%Beats 100%A
2002 BMW M51 engine80.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.9 Petrol1,51080.1%Beats 100%A
2001 BMW M51 engine79.7% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.9 Petrol2,37979.7%Beats 100%A
2000 BMW M51 engine77.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.9 Petrol2,17077.4%Beats 99%A

FAQ

What is the BMW M5 MOT pass rate?

85.8% of MOT tests on the BMW M5 were passed first time, based on 31,752 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2000–2016. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 67.7% of the time.

Is the BMW M5 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 100% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which BMW M5 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2007 M5 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 100% of cars on UK roads. The 2016 does worst: it beats 99%.

Which BMW M5 engine is best?

Across all years, the 5.0 Petrol does best: it beats 100% of cars on UK roads. The 4.4 Petrol does worst: it beats 99%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the BMW M5?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, headlight aim, windscreen washers. Compared with similar cars, number plates comes up 1.6× as often.

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.