2008 · 16 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2008 BMW 5 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

6,676 MOT tests in 2024. 71.1% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

125Well above average
Passed first time71.1%
Failed or needed repairs28.9%
Typical mileage at test148,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 6,676 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.6%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.7%
    324 marked dangerous
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.4%
  4. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.3%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.2%
    223 marked dangerous
  6. Position lamp: not working2.1%
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.7%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.3%
  9. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.3%
  10. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.1%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension13.9%
  2. Lights & electrics13.3%
  3. Tyres8.3%
  4. Brakes6.9%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.0%
  6. Emissions & leaks3.7%
  7. Steering3.2%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.7%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.0%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine12.0%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened7.8%
  5. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated6.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2007 5 SeriesAll 5 Series years2009 5 Series →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 BMW 5 Series?

In 2024, 71.1% of 2008 BMW 5 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 6,676 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 BMW 5 Series?

The most common failure reasons were linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; coil spring: fractured or broken. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2008 BMW 5 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 125, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).