2011 · 13 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2011 BMW X5 MOT pass rate and common faults

3,804 MOT tests in 2024. 76.4% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

124Well above average
Passed first time76.4%
Failed or needed repairs23.6%
Typical mileage at test113,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,804 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.9%
    175 marked dangerous
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.8%
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.6%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.3%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
    143 marked dangerous
  6. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.4%
  7. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.2%
  8. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn1.2%
  9. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.1%
  10. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.1%
    56 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension10.6%
  2. Tyres7.3%
  3. Lights & electrics6.9%
  4. Brakes5.7%
  5. Body & chassis3.5%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.2%
  7. Emissions & leaks1.6%
  8. Wheels1.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.9%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.1%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn8.5%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened6.2%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.5%

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: tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. 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 2011 BMW X5?

In 2024, 76.4% of 2011 BMW X5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,804 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 BMW X5?

The most common failure reasons were tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; coil spring: fractured or broken. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2011 BMW X5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 124, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).