2002 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,716 MOT tests, the 2002 BMW 5 Series recorded a 75.9% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 24.3%, so the 2002 5 Series sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.3%) and brakes (11.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,315 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2002 5 Series fails 22.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 25.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (25.3% vs 23.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.5% in 2021 to 22.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 2,051 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 1,868 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.1% | 1,848 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.4% | 1,069 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.6% | 763 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.1% | 685 |
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 | 1,315 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 947 |
| 3 | Washers | 875 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 720 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 595 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 572 |
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 | 35.4% | 5,919 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.1% | 5,029 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.3% | 4,057 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.7% | 3,787 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.3% | 2,554 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 2,274 |
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 | 251 | 22.7% |
| 30-60k | 478 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,777 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,181 | 23.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,904 | 24.9% |
| 150k+ | 6,812 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,361 | 23.4% |
| Diesel | 6,349 | 25.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,395 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 3,852 | 24.5% |
| 2023 | 3,259 | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 2,772 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 2,438 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a 2002 5 Series
On a 2002 5 Series, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.2% 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.
- Suspension (11.1% 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.
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 2002 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 16,716 2002 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 BMW 5 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by brakes (11.2%).
Does the 2002 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.7% in the 0-30k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,716 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.