BMW M5: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW M5 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 11.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 3,952 individual BMW M5 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate88.5%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+11.8 points
Tests analysed3,952
Average mileage at test81,129 miles
Average year of manufacture2009
Reliability rank922 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 88.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 12 in every 100 BMW M5s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW M5 tested had covered 81,129 miles and was built around 2009.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a BMW M5 bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW M5 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged BMW M5s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW M5

  1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 0.8% of tests (2.64x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 0.5% of tests (2.12x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 0.9% of tests
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 0.9% of tests
  5. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 0.6% of tests
  6. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.6% of tests
  7. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.6% of tests
  8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 0.6% of tests
  9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 9,450 DVSA-tracked BMW M5 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.29% of these flagged BMW M5 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW M5 pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each BMW M5 year:

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW M5 MOT pass rate badge: 88.5%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate