2001 · 23 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2001 BMW X5 MOT pass rate and common faults

501 MOT tests in 2024. 62.3% passed first time, compared with 59.4% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time62.3%
Failed or needed repairs37.7%
Typical mileage at test139,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 501 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt9.2%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.0%
  3. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.8%
  4. Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle3.2%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.0%
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.0%
  7. Stop lamp: not working3.0%
  8. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.8%
  9. Individual direction indicators: not working2.8%
  10. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics32.9%
  2. Brakes21.0%
  3. Suspension16.8%
  4. Body & chassis16.2%
  5. Emissions & leaks8.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.6%
  7. Seat belts & airbags5.4%
  8. Tyres5.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine29.5%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.8%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded20.4%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.6%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.8%

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: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, 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.

All X5 years2002 X5 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2001 BMW X5?

In 2024, 62.3% of 2001 BMW X5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 501 tests. The average for all 23-year-old cars was 59.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2001 BMW X5?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2001 BMW X5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).