BMW X5
From 184,014 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer X5s fare better: 2021 models pass at 91.4% vs 67.9% for 2001.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre cords visible or damaged and a tyre seriously damaged. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 4,967 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 4,967 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 3,432 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 3,429 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,230 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,707 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,511 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 1,371 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 1,362 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,351 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,320 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 58.2% of X5 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 7.5% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £104.
Fuel type matters
Electric/Diesel versions pass at 93.9% while Petrol versions pass at 80.9%, a 13 percentage point gap.
BMW X5 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 8,710 newly registered in the past year with 5,893 leaving, a net gain of 2,817. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 100,595 | 13,371 | +1,924 | -1,462 | +462 |
| 2025 Q2 | 100,387 | 13,117 | +1,770 | -1,239 | +531 |
| 2025 Q1 | 99,996 | 12,977 | +2,432 | -1,434 | +998 |
| 2024 Q4 | 99,260 | 12,715 | +2,584 | -1,758 | +826 |
| 2024 Q3 | 98,890 | 12,259 | +871 | -1,396 | -525 |
| 2024 Q2 | 99,786 | 11,888 | +1,314 | -1,327 | -13 |
| 2024 Q1 | 100,119 | 11,568 | +1,578 | -1,208 | +370 |
| 2023 Q4 | 100,154 | 11,163 | +1,524 | -1,246 | +278 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| X5 Xdrive30D M Sport Auto | Diesel | 22,751 | 27% |
| X5 Xdrive40D M Sport Auto | Diesel | 10,677 | 12% |
| X5 Xdrive30D M Sport Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 8,864 | 10% |
| X5 Xdrive50E M Sport Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 8,372 | 10% |
| X5 Xdrive45E M Sport Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 6,380 | 7% |
| X5 M50D Auto | Diesel | 4,966 | 6% |
| X5 Sport D Auto | Diesel | 4,722 | 6% |
| X5 Xdrive30D Se Auto | Diesel | 4,672 | 5% |
| X5 Xdrive40D M Sport Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 3,411 | 4% |
| X5 Sport Auto | Gas | 1,731 | 2% |
| X5 Xdrive40E M Sport Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,263 | 1% |
| X5 Xdrive40I M Sport Auto | Petrol | 1,222 | 1% |
| X5 Xdrive40D Se Auto | Diesel | 1,111 | 1% |
| X5 Se 5S 3.0D Auto | Diesel | 868 | 1% |
| X5 Xdrive 30D Msport 5S A | Diesel | 845 | <1% |
| X5 D Sport Auto | Diesel | 795 | <1% |
| X5 Se 7S 3.0D Auto | Diesel | 784 | <1% |
| X5 Xdrive25D M Sport Auto | Diesel | 734 | <1% |
| X5 Xdrive40I M Sport Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 726 | <1% |
| X5 M Competition Auto | Petrol | 711 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 91.4% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2020 | 92.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2019 | 91.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2018 | 89.6% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
17 earlier years
| 2017 | 90.3% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 90.1% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 90.1% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2014 | 90.7% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2013 | 85.9% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2012 | 84.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2011 | 83.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2010 | 83.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 82% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2008 | 79.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2007 | 77.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2006 | 72.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2005 | 72.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2004 | 71.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2003 | 71% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2002 | 69.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2001 | 67.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all X5s tested had between 32,377 and 122,211 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 63,794 median miles, the X5 has 0.023 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
| BMW X1 | 86.5% |
Common questions
What is the BMW X5 MOT pass rate?
The BMW X5 has a 85.4% MOT pass rate based on 184,014 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW X5?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW X5 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 4,967 failures. Other common issues include a tyre cords visible or damaged.
How many BMW X5s are on UK roads?
There are 100,595 BMW X5s currently licensed on UK roads, with 13,371 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW X5 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW X5 is 63,794 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 32,377 and 122,211 miles.
Buying a used X5?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.