2005 · 19 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2005 BMW X5 MOT pass rate and common faults

4,747 MOT tests in 2024. 60.7% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

107Above average
Passed first time60.7%
Failed or needed repairs39.3%
Typical mileage at test146,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 4,747 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt7.1%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn6.1%
  3. Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle4.5%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.2%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  6. Position lamp: not working3.7%
  7. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.4%
    274 marked dangerous
  8. Stop lamp: not working3.3%
  9. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.2%
  10. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
    234 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Brakes26.7%
  2. Lights & electrics23.4%
  3. Suspension19.7%
  4. Body & chassis14.7%
  5. Tyres9.0%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.3%
  7. Seat belts & airbags4.0%
  8. Steering3.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm25.3%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded19.7%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.0%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine10.3%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.0%

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.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 BMW X5?

In 2024, 60.7% of 2005 BMW X5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 4,747 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 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; door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2005 BMW X5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 107, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).