2021 · 3 years old at test · Plug-in hybrid mostly

2021 BMW 5 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

5,933 MOT tests in 2024. 87.0% passed first time, compared with 87.6% for all cars the same age.

99About average
Passed first time87.0%
Failed or needed repairs13.0%
Typical mileage at test31,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 5,933 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords3.6%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure2.6%
    208 marked dangerous
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.9%
    154 marked dangerous
  4. Road Wheels - condition: fractured1.3%
    107 marked dangerous
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.2%
    108 marked dangerous
  6. Headlamp aim: too high0.6%
  7. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.6%
  8. Tyres - condition: has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.5%
    36 marked dangerous
  9. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.4%
    30 marked dangerous
  10. Side repeaters: not working0.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres10.5%
  2. Wheels1.5%
  3. Lights & electrics1.3%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)0.7%
  5. Emissions & leaks0.6%
  6. Body & chassis0.4%
  7. Number plates & VIN0.4%
  8. Brakes0.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm12.1%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords3.3%
  3. Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre2.7%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.9%
  5. Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm1.9%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2020 5 SeriesAll 5 Series years

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 BMW 5 Series?

In 2024, 87.0% of 2021 BMW 5 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 5,933 tests. The average for all 3-year-old cars was 87.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2021 BMW 5 Series?

The most common failure reasons were tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords; tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2021 BMW 5 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 99, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).