MOT performance
2021 BMW 5 Series: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 6,310 MOT tests on 2021-registered BMW 5 Seriess in 2023–2024 (on average 2.3 years old at test, median 31,183 miles), 87.0% passed first time, 8.2 points higher than the BMW 5 Series overall. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, 2021 BMW 5 Seriess failed 9% more often than comparable cars.
6,310 MOT tests on 5,546 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 87.0% | ±0.8 pts (95%), n = 6,310 |
| All BMW 5 Seriess | 78.8% | n = 428,945 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.09× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 7.4% | n = 6,310 |
| Average age at test | 2.3 years | n = 6,310 |
Where 2021 BMW 5 Seriess fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 9.3% | +58% |
| Road wheels | 1.6% | +746% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.3% | -42% |
| Driver's view of the road | 0.7% | -74% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.5% | +94% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 0.4% | +97% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.4% | +68% |
| Brakes | 0.2% | -83% |
| Suspension | 0.1% | -84% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.1% | -67% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 3.58% |
| Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure | Tyres | 2.68% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 1.87% |
| Condition: fractured | Road wheels | 1.41% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 1.14% |
Check a specific 2021 BMW 5 Series
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
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About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.