2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 BMW 5 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

2,386 MOT tests in 2024. 63.2% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

110Well above average
Passed first time63.2%
Failed or needed repairs36.8%
Typical mileage at test136,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 2,386 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements5.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.7%
    144 marked dangerous
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.6%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.6%
  5. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.0%
  6. Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.9%
  7. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.5%
  8. Headlamp aim: too low2.3%
  9. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn2.3%
  10. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.2%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension22.0%
  2. Lights & electrics20.7%
  3. Brakes20.3%
  4. Tyres8.2%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.5%
  6. Emissions & leaks5.6%
  7. Steering5.4%
  8. Body & chassis4.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine21.5%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded18.4%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.9%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.6%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.1%

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: rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. 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 2003 BMW 5 Series?

In 2024, 63.2% of 2003 BMW 5 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 2,386 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 BMW 5 Series?

The most common failure reasons were rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2003 BMW 5 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 110, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).