2018 · 6 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2018 BMW X5 MOT pass rate and common faults

6,929 MOT tests in 2024. 85.4% passed first time, compared with 82.5% for all cars the same age.

103Above average
Passed first time85.4%
Failed or needed repairs14.6%
Typical mileage at test55,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 6,929 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.2%
    389 marked dangerous
  2. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.9%
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.0%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.4%
    170 marked dangerous
  5. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively0.9%
  6. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn0.7%
  7. Headlamp aim: too high0.6%
  8. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.6%
    55 marked dangerous
  9. Side repeaters: not working0.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres8.8%
  2. Lights & electrics2.2%
  3. Emissions & leaks2.1%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.7%
  5. Suspension1.5%
  6. Brakes1.5%
  7. Wheels0.5%
  8. Number plates & VIN0.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.5%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.7%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened3.3%
  4. Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt3.1%
  5. Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre2.9%

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: tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. 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 2018 BMW X5?

In 2024, 85.4% of 2018 BMW X5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 6,929 tests. The average for all 6-year-old cars was 82.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2018 BMW X5?

The most common failure reasons were tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed; tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2018 BMW X5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 103, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).