2004 · 20 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2004 BMW 5 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

2,928 MOT tests in 2024. 65.0% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

115Well above average
Passed first time65.0%
Failed or needed repairs35.0%
Typical mileage at test145,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 2,928 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault5.6%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.4%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.7%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.3%
    156 marked dangerous
  5. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.2%
  6. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.0%
  7. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.9%
  8. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.6%
  9. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.3%
  10. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.0%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension20.5%
  2. Lights & electrics19.9%
  3. Brakes16.2%
  4. Seat belts & airbags8.1%
  5. Tyres8.1%
  6. Emissions & leaks5.3%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.7%
  8. Steering4.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine25.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.8%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded18.6%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn17.7%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.2%

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: srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault. 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 2004 BMW 5 Series?

In 2024, 65.0% of 2004 BMW 5 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 2,928 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 BMW 5 Series?

The most common failure reasons were srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2004 BMW 5 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 115, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).