2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 BMW X5 MOT pass rate and common faults

3,842 MOT tests in 2024. 76.5% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

119Well above average
Passed first time76.5%
Failed or needed repairs23.5%
Typical mileage at test108,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,842 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Side repeaters: not working3.3%
  2. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.7%
    159 marked dangerous
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.6%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.1%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.8%
    128 marked dangerous
  6. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.6%
  7. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.3%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.2%
  9. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.9%
  10. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics10.8%
  2. Suspension8.3%
  3. Tyres7.7%
  4. Brakes5.7%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.8%
  6. Body & chassis1.5%
  7. Emissions & leaks1.3%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.5%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine9.9%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.8%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened5.4%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.2%

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: side repeaters: not working. 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 2012 BMW X5?

In 2024, 76.5% of 2012 BMW X5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,842 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 BMW X5?

The most common failure reasons were side repeaters: not working; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed; coil spring: fractured or broken. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 BMW X5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 119, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).