1999 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,222 MOT tests, the 1999 BMW 5 Series recorded a 73.6% pass rate. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.4%) and suspension (12.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 570 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 34.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.3% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 1.6pp more often than diesel ones (26.6% vs 24.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.9% in 2021 to 25.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 897 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 881 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.8% | 852 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.8% | 491 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.8% | 349 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.7% | 340 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 570 |
| 2 | Washers | 400 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 374 |
| 4 | Steering rack | 311 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 282 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 280 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 37.0% | 2,670 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.0% | 2,383 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.9% | 1,800 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.1% | 1,668 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.9% | 1,220 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 984 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 95 | 34.7% |
| 30-60k | 293 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 758 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,539 | 25.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,747 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,624 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,368 | 26.6% |
| Diesel | 850 | 24.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,010 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 1,685 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 1,376 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 1,146 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 1,005 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 1999 5 Series
On a 1999 5 Series, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (11.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1999 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
73.6% of the 7,222 1999 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 BMW 5 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by suspension (12.2%).
Does the 1999 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 34.7% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,222 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.