2004 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 23,272 MOT tests, the 2004 BMW 5 Series recorded a 76.4% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 24.3%, so the 2004 5 Series sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.6%) and lighting & signalling (11.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and srs malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,508 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.2% in the 0-30k band and 23.9% in the 150k+ band, a 5.7-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 23.4% of the time against 23.8% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.2% in 2021 to 21.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.6% | 2,932 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 2,620 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 2,085 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.2% | 1,440 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.1% | 1,414 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.7% | 871 |
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 | 1,508 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,476 |
| 3 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 1,270 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,188 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 1,146 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,100 |
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 | 36.2% | 8,429 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.3% | 7,970 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.2% | 6,324 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.3% | 5,893 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 3,950 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.2% | 3,297 |
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 | 55 | 18.2% |
| 30-60k | 458 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,962 | 20.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,422 | 22.8% |
| 120-150k | 6,268 | 25.1% |
| 150k+ | 10,071 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,231 | 23.4% |
| Petrol | 10,039 | 23.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,695 | 25.2% |
| 2022 | 5,585 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 4,575 | 23.4% |
| 2024 | 3,645 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 2,772 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 5 Series
On a 2004 5 Series, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.0% 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 2004 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
76.4% of the 23,272 2004 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 BMW 5 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.3%).
Does the 2004 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 0-30k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,272 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.