BMW 5 SERIES MOT pass rate
85.0% of 381,541 BMW 5 SERIES MOT tests pass.
The 5 SERIES's pass rate of 85.0% is in line with the average across all BMW models, at 85.5%.
The BMW 5 SERIES passes its MOT 85.0% of the time — well above the national average for cars, which sits at 79.2%.
Own this BMW 5 SERIES?
This is the average across every BMW 5 SERIES in the dataset. Look up your own registration for its actual MOT history, and a free place to keep its maintenance records.
How to check and keep your BMW’s service history →
Pass rate by vehicle age
Pass rate declines noticeably with age, from 90.4% at 0–3 years to 76.5% at 15+ years.
| Vehicle age | Pass rate | Tests | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–3 years | 90.4% | 10,097 | 32,294 miles |
| 3–6 years | 91.4% | 78,011 | 51,249 miles |
| 6–10 years | 88.9% | 110,897 | 86,472 miles |
| 10–15 years | 81.9% | 103,914 | 123,651 miles |
| 15+ years | 76.5% | 78,622 | 148,727 miles |
Common MOT failure reasons for the BMW 5 SERIES
The most common reason the BMW 5 SERIES fails its MOT is tyres — present in 36.0% of failed tests, most often logged as "Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm".
| Category | Share of failed tests | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 36.0% | Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 34.6% | Not working |
| Suspension | 32.6% | Fractured or broken |
| Brakes | 21.2% | Less than 1.5 mm thick |
| Visibility | 13.0% | Does not clear the windscreen effectively |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.6% | Inoperative or indicates a malfunction |
| Steering | 5.9% | Ball joint has excessive play |
| Road Wheels | 5.8% | Fixing missing |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.0% | Constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 4.4% | Warning lamp indicates a fault |
Related BMW models
- BMW 3 SERIES — 82.6% pass rate
- BMW 1 SERIES — 83.7% pass rate
- BMW 2 SERIES — 89.3% pass rate
- BMW 4 SERIES — 88.9% pass rate
- BMW X5 — 86.7% pass rate
- BMW X3 — 86.5% pass rate
Frequently asked questions
- What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW 5 SERIES?
- 85.0% of BMW 5 SERIES MOT tests pass, based on 381,541 tests in the DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results dataset.
- What are the most common MOT failures for the BMW 5 SERIES?
- The most common reason the BMW 5 SERIES fails its MOT is tyres — present in 36.0% of failed tests, most often logged as "Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm".
- Does this show the BMW 5 SERIES's service history?
- No — this is MOT test data, which covers roadworthiness, not servicing. A service history is a separate record of maintenance work, which a specific car only has if its owner has kept it. See the BMW service history guide for how to check and keep one.