Petrol BMW 5 Series: MOT pass rate

88.3% of petrol BMW 5 Series pass the MOT first time, measured across 14,237 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 53,793.

Petrol against the other BMW 5 Series versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the BMW 5 Series specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 88.5%, and this petrol version sits 2.5 points above the 85.8% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The petrol BMW 5 Series is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average petrol BMW 5 Series had covered 53,793 miles at test, against 92,298 for the diesel and 64,074 for the hybrid. That is around average, so condition and service history will tell you more than the odometer does.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the BMW 5 Series page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a petrol BMW 5 Series

1. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.7% of tests (11.24x the national rate for this defect)
2. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.3% of tests (1.66x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.5% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2% of tests
5. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.8% of tests
6. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.8% of tests
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.6% of tests
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.6% of tests
9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.6% of tests
10. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.5% of tests

From 14,362 DVSA-tracked petrol BMW 5 Series tests, 2024, split out from the BMW 5 Series's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 8.89% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a petrol BMW 5 Series

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A transmission shaft flexible coupling excessively deteriorated, 1.1% of tests (17.14x the national rate for this defect)
2. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 0.7% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect)
3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 20% of tests, also fails
4. A tyre seriously damaged, 10.9% of tests, also fails
5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 5.6% of tests
6. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.1% of tests
7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 3% of tests
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 3% of tests
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.8% of tests, also fails
10. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.9% of tests

From 14,362 DVSA-tracked petrol BMW 5 Series tests, 2024.

Other BMW 5 Series fuel types

• Diesel BMW 5 Series - 84.2%
• Hybrid BMW 5 Series - 88.5%

All BMW 5 Series MOT data · Every model