Reliability report
BMW X5 reliability and common faults
Based on 106,881 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
17.2%
fail rate · average 23.6%
much better than average
81,110 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
33.1%
with defects · average 41.3%
much better than average
2,479 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
55.6%
first-time pass · average 51.1%
better than average
23,292 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the BMW X5
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Steering
Wheelsconfirmed in 2 countries
Plates and identification
Driving controls
Tyres
Exhaust and emissions
Seat belts and airbags
Body and structure
Suspension
Visibility
Brakes
Lights and electrics
Most common test failures
- 1Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 4Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 5Tyre insufficient tread
- 6Tyre damaged
- 7Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 8Steering knuckle (ball joint) too much play
- 9Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 10Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 11Particulate filter not working properly, particle count exceeds limit
- 12Brake light doesn't work (properly)
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 11.1% avg 9.9% | 22.9% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 11.6% avg 15.3% | 21.6% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 12.4% avg 22.9% | 34.4% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 20.2% avg 30.3% | 56.9% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 26.9% avg 34.6% | — |
| 21+ years | 30.6% avg 31.4% | — |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | X5 | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62.9% | 86.7% | 35 |
| 2020 | 62.1% | 78.6% | 87 |
| 2019 | 58.8% | 83.2% | 272 |
| 2018 | 61.9% | 79.5% | 160 |
| 2017 | 66.9% | 76.6% | 275 |
| 2016 | 59.2% | 72.8% | 451 |
| 2015 | 60.0% | 71.1% | 865 |
| 2014 | 62.5% | 68.0% | 738 |
| 2013 | 58.8% | 65.9% | 364 |
| 2012 | 53.7% | 63.7% | 458 |
| 2011 | 52.7% | 61.2% | 651 |
| 2010 | 61.1% | 57.3% | 728 |
| 2009 | 58.4% | 54.5% | 1,106 |
| 2008 | 63.7% | 52.4% | 1,898 |
| 2007 | 62.9% | 50.6% | 1,961 |
BMW X5 – FAQs
How reliable is the BMW X5?+
In the UK the BMW X5 fails 17.2% of MOT tests, against an average of 23.6% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 33.1% of APK inspections (average there 41.3%) – much better than average. In Lithuania 55.6% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 51.1%) – better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the BMW X5?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: steering, wheels, plates and identification, tyres.
What should I check when buying a used BMW X5?+
The most common inspection failures: Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Tyre insufficient tread. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More BMW models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).