2008 · 16 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2008 BMW X5 MOT pass rate and common faults

3,062 MOT tests in 2024. 70.7% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

124Well above average
Passed first time70.7%
Failed or needed repairs29.3%
Typical mileage at test134,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,062 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.9%
  2. Rear fog lamp: not working2.8%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.7%
  4. Position lamp: not working2.5%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.4%
    124 marked dangerous
  6. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid2.1%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
    119 marked dangerous
  8. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.9%
  9. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.7%
  10. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics18.7%
  2. Suspension14.6%
  3. Brakes7.7%
  4. Tyres7.4%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.6%
  6. Body & chassis2.3%
  7. Emissions & leaks2.2%
  8. Wheels2.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.5%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine18.7%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.3%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.3%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.0%

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: coil spring: fractured or broken. 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 2008 BMW X5?

In 2024, 70.7% of 2008 BMW X5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,062 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 BMW X5?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; rear fog lamp: not working; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2008 BMW X5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 124, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).