2006 · 18 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2006 BMW X5 MOT pass rate and common faults

2,982 MOT tests in 2024. 60.8% passed first time, compared with 56.1% for all cars the same age.

108Well above average
Passed first time60.8%
Failed or needed repairs39.2%
Typical mileage at test146,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 2,982 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.9%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.9%
  3. Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle4.8%
  4. Position lamp: not working4.8%
  5. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.7%
  6. Stop lamp: not working4.0%
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.8%
  8. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.7%
  9. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.6%
    159 marked dangerous
  10. Decelerometer (sp): efficiency below requirements2.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Brakes28.7%
  2. Lights & electrics24.4%
  3. Suspension23.0%
  4. Body & chassis11.8%
  5. Tyres9.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)8.2%
  7. Seat belts & airbags3.9%
  8. Steering2.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm25.1%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded21.2%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn12.7%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.1%
  5. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine7.9%

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.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2006 BMW X5?

In 2024, 60.8% of 2006 BMW X5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 2,982 tests. The average for all 18-year-old cars was 56.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2006 BMW X5?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2006 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).