2007 · 17 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2007 BMW 5 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

7,865 MOT tests in 2024. 68.8% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

121Well above average
Passed first time68.8%
Failed or needed repairs31.2%
Typical mileage at test155,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 7,865 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.5%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
    395 marked dangerous
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.9%
    323 marked dangerous
  4. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.6%
  5. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.6%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.5%
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.4%
  8. Position lamp: not working2.3%
  9. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.2%
  10. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated1.9%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension16.3%
  2. Lights & electrics14.6%
  3. Brakes10.3%
  4. Tyres9.7%
  5. Steering4.7%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.9%
  7. Emissions & leaks3.5%
  8. Body & chassis1.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.5%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn14.5%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine12.2%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.1%
  5. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated6.6%

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: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play. 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 2007 BMW 5 Series?

In 2024, 68.8% of 2007 BMW 5 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 7,865 tests. The average for all 17-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2007 BMW 5 Series?

The most common failure reasons were track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2007 BMW 5 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 121, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).