BMW X5: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW X5 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 4.5 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 82,281 individual BMW X5 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate81.2%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+4.5 points
Tests analysed82,281
Average mileage at test96,594 miles
Average year of manufacture2013
Reliability rank1,404 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 81.2% first-time pass rate means roughly 19 in every 100 BMW X5s 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 X5 tested had covered 96,594 miles and was built around 2013.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a BMW X5 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 X5 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 X5s actually sold for at UK salvage auction, from 4 real settled sales.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW X5

  1. A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly, 0.6% of tests (4.39x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.2% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.7% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.2% of tests
  5. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.1% of tests
  6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.4% of tests
  7. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.1% of tests
  8. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1% of tests
  9. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 0.9% of tests
  10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.9% of tests

From 179,876 DVSA-tracked BMW X5 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.31% of these flagged BMW X5 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW X5 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 X5 year:

BMW X5 by fuel type

Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number:

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW X5 MOT pass rate badge: 81.2%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate