2004 · 20 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2004 BMW X5 MOT pass rate and common faults

2,667 MOT tests in 2024. 61.3% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

109Well above average
Passed first time61.3%
Failed or needed repairs38.7%
Typical mileage at test145,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 2,667 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.3%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.8%
  3. Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle4.9%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.3%
  5. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.2%
  6. Position lamp: not working3.5%
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.2%
  8. Stop lamp: not working3.2%
  9. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.1%
    123 marked dangerous
  10. Decelerometer (sp): efficiency below requirements2.7%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics25.5%
  2. Brakes25.1%
  3. Suspension19.2%
  4. Body & chassis13.9%
  5. Tyres8.7%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.6%
  7. Seat belts & airbags3.6%
  8. Emissions & leaks3.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm23.1%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded20.4%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine16.9%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.1%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.2%

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: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. 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 X5?

In 2024, 61.3% of 2004 BMW X5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 2,667 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 BMW X5?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 BMW X5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 109, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).