2003 · 21 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2003 BMW X5 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,783 MOT tests in 2024. 61.9% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

108Well above average
Passed first time61.9%
Failed or needed repairs38.1%
Typical mileage at test141,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,783 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn6.7%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.3%
  3. Stop lamp: not working4.3%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.2%
  5. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.8%
  6. Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle3.6%
  7. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.4%
  8. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.1%
  9. Position lamp: not working3.0%
  10. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.0%
    81 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics29.3%
  2. Brakes26.2%
  3. Suspension17.6%
  4. Body & chassis11.9%
  5. Tyres8.5%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.3%
  7. Emissions & leaks4.3%
  8. Seat belts & airbags3.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm23.9%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine23.8%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded23.1%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn15.9%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.3%

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: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2002 X5All X5 years2004 X5 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 BMW X5?

In 2024, 61.9% of 2003 BMW X5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,783 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 BMW X5?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; stop lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2003 BMW X5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 108, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).